Cocaine haul was just our military doing their duty

THE positive profile attaching to the Defence Forces this week, after its part in the €157m haul of cocaine seized off the Irish coast – the largest drugs capture in the history of the State – was very welcome, especially to those of us who are serving or who have served in its ranks.

And yet, these favourable headlines should not be so apposite; this was our military in the service of the State, doing what its personnel are trained for and what the Irish taxpayer should expect of it.

Unfortunately, the shocking neglect of the Defence Forces by Government, and the sometimes biased headlines that have tarred the whole force and its dedicated personnel with the same brush, have left the organisation ‘gasping for oxygen’ in a fight for recognition and relevance in the public mind.

Michael Gannon, (Colonel retired), Kilkenny city

Browne’s bravery

THE campaign against hare coursing started in 1966, and I’ve just been having a look back at one of the first political moves against the blood sport.

During the Senate debate on the committee stage of the Wildlife Bill in 1975, Dr Noël Browne was one of five senators who tried to have a coursing ban included in the legislation. The proposal, needless to say, was heavily defeated, with senators lining up to defend what they lauded as a ‘wonderful sport’, a ‘harmless pastime’ etc.

‘Speaking as a psychiatrist,’ Dr Browne stated, ‘it is worth examining the kind of people who indulge in this masochistic practice. What is wrong with you people that you enjoy this kind of thing? Have you ever wondered about your own emotional makeup that makes you enjoy the sound of an animal screaming, being hunted, frightened… running away?’

Noël Browne is renowned as a far-seeing man who was way ahead of his time in recognising how our society needed to change. He paid a high price for his principled approach to political decision-making.

He opposed corporal punishment in schools at a time when most other senators and TDs condoned it. He did more than any other health minister in any government to eradicate TB in Ireland. He bravely tried to push through a mother and child healthcare scheme in the teeth of ferocious political and ecclesiastical opposition.

He was subsequently vindicated in his stances on these and a range of other contentious issues. Perhaps his vision of an Ireland without hare coursing will also come to pass.

John Fitzgerald, Callan, Co. Kilkenny

Fishers run aground

WE have the richest fishing grounds in Europe and yet our Government is pushing Irish fishermen out of business. With a fleet of boats gone to the scrap yard in West Cork, not alone are they losing their boats but also their dignity. It is not only the fishers and their families who will suffer but also the wider coastal communities.

Once again, Irish fishermen are being sacrificed as part of a deal between the United Kingdom and the European Union. Under Brexit, the EU Commission transferred 25% of EU fishing rights around our coasts back to British waters. This decision limited Irish vessels in the number of fish they are allowed to catch. We are looking at a loss of €43m a year, making this country most affected.

We were also sold out in 1972 with the reduced fishing limits. Quotas have been cut every year since. We need feet on the street again to support what is left of our fishing industry.

Noel Harrington, Kinsale, Co. Cork.

Easy on the bangers

I AM no killjoy when it comes to celebrating Halloween but I have to applaud the Minister of State, James Browns, for launching his appeal alongside An Garda Síochána, the ISPCA, Irish Guide Dogs for the Blind and Dublin Fire Brigade, urging people not to misuse fireworks.

We are now in October and from now until Halloween we will hear disturbing loud noises from fireworks. These can cause significant distress to vulnerable people, particularly elderly people and those with sensory issues, as well as animals.

Fireworks can be particularly distressing for dogs and cats. But let’s also remember those who are vision-impaired and the families of children with autism when it comes to fireworks.

As we now head into the run-up to Halloween, it would be a fantastic gesture if people refrained from buying and using illegal fireworks.

John O’Brien, Clonmel, Co. Tipperary.