Think twice, Leo, before legalising any kind of drugs

THE Taoiseach’s ill-judged statements on decriminalising drugs and legalising them at a later stage are worrying. It seems he has not read any of the historical facts on the drug industry.

And this at a time when Ireland is lobbying to retain a non-permanent seat at the United Nations Security Council in 2021.

International voices have already been raised to stop Canada gaining a seat there because Leo’s best buddy, Canada’s Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, will legalise cannabis in October.

Numerous expert witnesses have warned this could jeopardise his country’s chance of being selected over Ireland and Norway.

And a similar move here would certainly show Ireland as another rogue nation whose prime minister feels he can play God with international laws at will.

Ireland is a signatory to the United Nations conventions on the rights of the child and on drugs, along with the other UN members. Why would we be considered for a seat on this important UN council if we flaunt international laws on drugs?

And has no-one warned Leo Varadkar of the problems of getting an agreement on the border after Brexit with drug smuggling?

How will he explain that to Arlene Foster or Theresa May?

If this Government normalises drug use against the advice of experts they will be playing with fire and Mr Varadkar must then take responsibility for it.

It’s time for him to stop playing to the gallery to gain votes from those of us who get up early in the morning.

GRÁINNE KENNY, by email. ...HOMELESSNESS campaigner Fr Peter McVerry is calling for the decriminalisation of drug possession (Irish Daily Mail, yesterday).

We cannot stop the distribution and sale of cannabis so the no-brainer solution is to legalise it. Remember Prohibition in the US many years ago? They banned the sale of alcohol but had to legalise it in the end.

Currently we are making multimillionaires out of criminals who make a lot of money from selling drugs. If they were made legal the Government could make a lot of money which would help pay for our health services. Yes, it really is a no-brainer situation. It would also considerably reduce the workload of our gardaí. JOHN FAIR, Castlebar, Co. Mayo.

The hot air brigade

IT is ironic that there was a ‘Climate Change Action Meeting’ in Athlone, Co. Westmeath, about CC causing flooding. Meanwhile Irish Water is telling people across the midlands and further afield to conserve water due to reservoirs running dry because of this prolonged period without rain.

If I remember rightly, climate change was supposed to bring increased rainfall during summer months, according to the many climate change ‘experts’.

Last summer, some west of Ireland farmers didn’t have two dry days together, losing crops and silage production.

Also, the latest reports say there are shortages of carbon dioxide for industrial purposes and they are reaching a critical stage, while we are told by alarmists that there is a surplus of carbon dioxide in earth’s atmosphere caused by burning of fossil fuels.

The climate change begrudgers proclaim the negative side of everything to do with weather.

TOM BALDWIN, Midleton, Co. Cork. MICHAEL D Higgins has called on the Defence Force to increase female participation in its ranks.

This gender concern is at variance with the 2012 Pensions Act where thousands of Irish women were and remain deprived of a substantial element of their earned contributory OAP.

This is a matter the President could rectify an unfair situation. DENIS O’HIGGINS,

Monaghan.