Turf cutting will never be stopped by a political diktat

AS any bogman, like myself, will be aware, it is a waste of official time and energy trying to prevent future cutting by hardened traditional turf cutters, through political diktat.

This campaign is akin to expecting a mature Catholic to cease the practice of blessing themselves. The cute covert ploy of the Government by sending urban-based Eamon Ryan, who wouldn’t know one end of a turf sod from the other, to ‘soften’ the cutters is not impressing any bogman.

Minister Ryan is quite agreeable to absorb the criticism coming from afar in the happy knowledge that the fallout will not impinge his Dublin-based vote.

Not only did our family and our neighbours all save and burn turf as our heating fuel, our parents donated loads of turf to heat our bare national school.

I’m not aware that its use gave rise to a wave of bronchitis in our locality or any form of chitis among the schoolers who, otherwise, would have frozen in their damp school building.

DENIS O’HIGGINS, Monaghan. ... MINISTER Eamon Ryan and his Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael partners in Government are continually saying that burning turf contributes to 1,300 deaths a year from pollution.

However, over 2,000 deaths a year, or six deaths a day, are linked to delays in the A&E departments in our hospitals. It is within the gift of Minister Ryan and his Green Party, and his partners in Government, to fix this, but instead he keeps harping on about old people down the country in the middle of nowhere, burning turf to stay warm and alive.

The Greens and their leader seem to have got their priorities all wrong, as usual.

DENIS DENNEHY, Dublin.

Stand up to tyranny

THE free world must not allow Vladimir Putin to think he can use bully-boy tactics to threaten war with the West.

This tyrant must be faced down otherwise we will live under constant threat and intimidation. We must make the hardest of choices if we want to live in peace.

B CHANNING, by email.

... JUST to get his own way, is Putin really prepared to turn the planet into a radioactive wasteland? The ego and madness of one deranged man.

HARRY COOPS, by email.

Menopause problems

I AM horrified by the number of people who think that because the menopause is natural, women should put up, shut up and get on with it. Childbirth is natural, but does that mean we should allow mothers and babies to suffer and do nothing to help?

Why should women be expected to endure in silence? Are we deemed to be less worthy of medical assistance?

J. H. GREY, by email.

Back to communism

THE provision of an adequate public transport system is the hallmark of any healthy democracy, as it provides people with a means to get around without them having to own a car, which a sizeable proportion of people wouldn’t be able to afford.

When it comes to smartphone technology, though, we are seeing a different attitude. Smartphones are becoming a necessity – necessary to buy and sell, for example. Where is the alternative for people who choose not to own one and not have to pay a company which provides mobile services?

Money will soon be fully digitalised. Where will the alternative be for people who prefer to use a tangible currency? It’s like the policymakers have taken the gloves off and feel they don’t need to provide alternatives.

There’s a new elitist chauvinism in society. It’s updated communism with global institutions now acting as the new Politburo, but this time it’s on a global scale.

LOUIS SHAWCROSS, Hillsborough, Co. Down.