Sir, - The recent tragedy in the backpackers' hostel in Australia may justifiably cause people to ask if the same thing might happen here.
We do not yet know the details of the Childers catastrophe or why there was such loss of life and we should not speculate. We should sympathise with the families of the bereaved and with those who were injured and we should look to see if our own house is in order.
In Ireland, holiday hostels and youth hostels are approved by Bord Failte or by the Northern Ireland Tourist Board. This approval is subject to the premises having been inspected, and passed as meeting all the requirements, by the local fire authority.
Every tourist board approved hostel in Ireland is thus regulated and safe.
Because the standards of safety in tourist board approved hostels are strictly monitored, I suggest that people contemplating using an Irish hostel should check first and see if it is listed by the tourist board. If it is, they can be assured that they can "sleep easy in their beds". - Yours, etc.,
Robin Hickey, Chairman, Independent Holiday Hostels of Ireland, Lower Gardiner Street, Dublin 1.