Domhnall O Troighthigh’s illogical rant – ‘It’s time for logic and reason to set path forward for Brexit’ (January 1) – was hilarious but I doubt that was the intention. He didn’t explain how quoting the Central Statistics Office in Dublin and the Office of National Statistics in London is verging on fake news while he spouted the figure about Ireland’s fish landings doubling without any source of evidence. The Central Statistics Office discontinued fishery landing statistics in 2004 so how can we be certain without the necessary statistical data? The same Fin Facts article by Michael Hennigan he is implicitly referencing claims that in 1995 Irish fish landings had quintupled from 1973. This means if the article’s claim on 2013 landings is correct, Hennigan gives no sources for that paragraph or the accompanying pictograph, then fish landings in the Free State have declined by over half in the last two decades. This is hardly innovative, expansive or indicative of high growth. Another inadvertent admission by implicitly referencing the Fin Facts article is that it shows that Norway, France and Denmark are plundering Irish waters for fish stocks and that fishing is still a low priority sector in the Free State as fish landings are no greater than British fish landings were in 1960.
As a Remoaner living in a city that voted 60 per cent for Remain, he disingenuously ignores who is standing in the way of maintaining trade between the Irish and British. It is the EU’s self-flagellating intransigence and he knows that is what is putting the investment, which I clearly deliberately highlighted (December 11) that he holds dear at risk.
I gave a credible source for the Free State’s net contribution in fish stock compared to the EU returning Irish money via grants. Being a net contributor to a parasitic and anti-democratic multinational federation that should not exist is necessary to highlight not merely worthwhile or noteworthy. He portrayed himself as a man of logic and reason yet these aspects were absent from his letter. Not one Europhile has explained how “ever closer union” is compatible with “the right of the people of Ireland to the ownership of Ireland, and to the unfettered control of Irish destinies, to be sovereign and indefeasible”.He also ignores the recent progress made by the EU towards an imperial EU military
Another convenient omission is Schultz’s call for the United States of Europe which YouGov’s poll showed as having little support from people in EU nations. The crux of his non-sequitur is that he does not like national sovereignty and democracy. His ungracious rant only serves to boost the argument for Éireamach.
EAMONN MacGRIANNA
Belfast BT11
Chance to bring hope and possibility for Rohingya refugees
As we begin another new year we hope for health and prosperity and that those dear to us will enjoy a happy and safe 2018. Sadly, for millions of people around the globe their basic survival rather than happiness is an immediate priority.
One group of people for whom 2018 starts with great uncertainty and insecurity are the Rohingya refugees. Currently, close to one million Rohingya people have fled violence in Myanmar to seek refuge across the border in Bangladesh, with over 620,000 arriving since August alone.
Many have arrived with just the clothes on their backs. They are in desperate need of food, clean water and shelter. Those who survive the treacherous journey are living in makeshift tents in hugely overcrowded settlements.
Conditions in the camps are woefully inadequate and unhealthy, with overflowing latrines and contaminated water. They’re largely unlit and dangerous at night, making women, girls and children particularly vulnerable to abuse, exploitation and trafficking.
Thanks to help from the people of Northern Ireland we are there. We are providing life-saving water and sanitation – drilling wells and installing water points, toilets and showers to help prevent the spread of deadly disease.
To date, we have distributed emergency food, including rice, biscuits and sugar and have recruited 248 volunteers from local Bangladeshi communities to help us raise awareness about the importance of hand washing and hygiene in staying healthy and safe in crowded camps.
In total, we’ve reached 185,000 people and we hope to reach more than 200,000, but we can’t do this without your support.
In 2017, the people of Northern Ireland were extraordinarily generous to Oxfam Ireland’s work, supporting us through donating, volunteering and shopping in-store at our 45 shops across the island.
We are appealing to that generosity once again and asking that readers please donate to our Rohingya Emergency Appeal, either in-store or at oxfamireland.org/bangladesh. Please consider helping us so we can ensure that 2018 is a year that starts to bring hope and possibility for Rohingya refugees.
JIM CLARKEN
Oxfam Ireland Chief Executive
Growing call for Irish passport office in north
The growing consensus calling on the Irish government to open a passport Office here in the north merits serious consideration by foreign minister Simon Coveney.
The latest statistics from the minister’s own department shows that in 2017 alone more than 82,000 applications for passports came from the six counties.
This trend has increased year on year, no doubt having been exacerbated as a result of an unwanted Brexit. There is no denying either that the applications are coming from a broad range of communities. This is a welcome and positive reality.
Welcome too is the fact that a broad range of political parties also support the call for opening an office.
This shows not only a growing consensus compelling us to work collectively for its achievement but it also indicates an identifiable need for the government to explore what is a growing need for them to improve their infrastructure and service delivery.
With existing offices in both Dublin and Cork, which deliver for people in those parts of the country, an additional facility servicing the north will have an immediate impact, it will create jobs and importantly show a welcome commitment by the Irish government to invest in and stand by citizens north of the border as Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has publicly committed to do.
Sen NIALL O DONNGHAILE
Béal Feirste
Surprised by negative publicity
Far be it from me to be too indulgent of Tory rulers in Northern Ireland. However, even this Fermanagh man is surprised by the negative publicity out-going secretary of state James Brokenshire has received throughout his tenure in the north.
Because of that negative publicity, when Mr. Brokenshire spoke in July at the Northern Ireland Bureau in Washington, DC, I was expecting him to be remote, disengaged, condescending and even arrogant.
In fairness, that is not what I witnessed. Instead, I saw a man who was open and respectful to his audience. And even when I publicly challenged him on the shameful British government record on the case Raymond McCord jnr – who was brutally murdered by police informers – he did not react badly or with hostility. And, after the public encounter he maintained his composure and respectful manner.
So, in fairness and justice, I must give him credit for that. After all, the ‘appalling vista’ of the British government colluding in the slaughter of a young Belfast Protestant is one of the most sensitive issues for the British government. I call that case the ‘Protestant version’ of the Pat Finucane case, mutatis mutandis (with the respective differences having been considered).
I wish him a speedy recovery.
Fr SEAN McMANUS
Irish National Caucus, Washington DC
