Madam, – The last time I wrote a letter to a paper was in 1983 when, as the main breadwinner, I was refused permission to buy a washing machine on hire-purchase without the signature of my then unemployed husband or another male relative. We are led to believe that a lot has changed in the intervening 28 years for women in this country. I wonder how true this is.
It is with deep dismay that I see the male bastion standing front line with Enda Kenny. Are we about to endorse yet another male-dominated, patriarchal government? Where are the Fine Gael women gone? On reading Fine Gael’s manifesto, I see three lines under Political Reform (17.2), specifically mentioning women.
Isn’t it time, we as a nation and society, took responsibility for our communal history of staying silent and turning a blind eye to the injustices that have been inherent in our country since the foundation of the State? Or is it only when the curtains veiling our secrets and lies are drawn back for the world to see that we are shamed into taking right action? Is it only when we are brought to our knees financially, that we are moved to action? Do we only act for justice and reform when our identity and credibility as a people and a society is under threat?
We have been made aware of many scandals and injustices in this country over the past years, not least the scandals in relation to the ill-treatment of our children in institutions and our women who were illegally incarcerated in Magdalene laundries, many of whom are still waiting for redress and reparation, two years on from the Ryan and Murphy reports. Already the promised reforms and constitutional referendum on children’s rights have been put on the back boiler.
I hope that that both Labour, which seems to be more inclusive of women and interested in a 40 per cent increase in the numbers of women in political parties, and Fine Gael, will take more than a few leaves from the manifesto of Mannix Flynn ( Independent candidate, Dublin South East) and others who with courage, honesty and transparency are not afraid to call our attention to the need for urgent change at every level of our society and not just the financial.
Let us stay awake now and not be frightened or intimidated into silence, by shame, as we have been in the past. – Yours, etc,
PAULINE GOGGIN,
Lanahrone Avenue,
Corbally, Limerick
Madam, – After the election will the “new Ireland” be a safe place for the unborn child? There seems to be a distinct lack of clarity in all political parties about abortion, with one party openly in favour of abortion on demand. The usual pro-choice line is that abortion may be necessary to save the life of the mother. This thinking goes against medical evidence. Ireland is the safest place in the world for a mother to have a baby according to several studies carried out by the WHO, UNICEF, UNFPA and the World Bank (2007, 2011). Abortion is never necessary to save a woman’s life. The suffering post-abortion can last a lifetime. A pregnant woman will never be denied necessary treatment even if that results in the unintentional loss of the unborn child. “Abortion is not a treatment. It kills an innocent defenceless human being.” (Dr Jim Dundon, Emeritus Prof Paeds. RCSI, January 14th, 2011). We call on all voters to think of the unborn when candidates call and when you have pen-in-hand on ballot day. – Yours, etc,
Fr PHONSIE CULLINAN, Mayorstone, Limerick;
ANTOINETTE FITZGIBBON Limerick;
Fr JIM LENIHAN, Co Kerry;
GONZALO MORENO, Limerick;
AGATA DZBENSKA, Limerick,
PHILIP PRENDEVILLE, Dublin and BERNADETTE GOULDING, post-abortion counsellor, Cork, C/o Mayorstone Park, Limerick
ALEX STAVELEY,
Turvey Walk,
Donabate, Co Dublin.
Madam, – Voters should ask one question of candidates in the general election: do you think it right that the ordinary citizen should pay for the mistakes of bankers and investors? Opinion polls suggest more than 70 per cent of voters support parties that will continue to “burn” the citizens of this country. The strange thing is that 100 per cent of people I ask consider this policy unfair and unjust. What’s going on? We are experiencing a massive transfer of resources from the vast majority to a tiny elite. It must be the most barefaced robbery in history, so audacious that people take it for granted.
The people weren’t consulted about this crime, euphemistically called an “adjustment”. Now we have the chance to vote we are harangued from all quarters to accept it. I propose we reject it.
If we vote for candidates that accept this injustice we can’t complain when they cut our wages, increase charges and taxes and degrade our society. We voters should consider carefully to whom we give our vote. – Yours, etc,
PADRAIG O’COIGLIGH,
Coolmine Court,
Clonsilla, Dublin 15.
Madam, – If you truly believe that the politicians have done a good job and do not need to be regulated or controlled, then vote for the candidate of your choice. You will be declaring that you accept the present political system.
If you are unhappy with the political system and unwilling to give the politicians the power they are seeking, then you should vote for a total and unequivocal re-alignment of power – in the citizen’s favour – by spoiling your vote by putting a large X stretching from the top to the bottom of the ballot paper and writing NO on the ballot paper. The act of spoiling your vote is a valid way of letting your voice be heard. It will say that you are not willing to transfer power to the politicians without that power being first regulated, controlled and limited. That way your vote will count as an utter rejection of the present arrangement.From the ashes of this dysfunctional political system a truly just, fair, equitable and accountable system of government and social system can emerge, but the citizens have to declare what they want changed. – Yours, etc,
Madam, – I thought I was being very smart in putting a notice on my door, that I did not wish to be disturbed by any election canvassers and no leaflets to be left.
At the time of writing my son and I had received six leaflets in the post (one for each of us). Two that arrived on one day were numbered 35,146 and 35,147. I can only assume that these numbers are part of a series, the total number issued being unknown.
Even if one were to calculate the cost of postage for this number, and a reduced postage for each leaflet, say at 50 cent each, the amount involved of €17,500 approximately, is a sizeable sum.
The full cost, including printing, would represent a donation any charity would accept with open arms.
All of the parties are telling us how much money can be saved, and must be saved. They should practise what they preach. – Yours, etc,