Letters to the Editor: Nobody is working for Cork
An 'Irish Examiner' reader fears for the future of Cork after planning was refused for more homes. Picture: Larry Cummins
I have read again that An Bord Pleanála has refused more homes in Cork.
This is the second major refusal totalling 2,000 homes in Cork in recent months.
Continued under-investment in the county has led to this.
If Cork is to grow and provide homes for an increased population, the infrastructure must be put in place rapidly.
Governments, including many senior ministers, from Cork have not managed to get appropriate funding for this.
In my opinion, the only way that Cork can progress is with an elected mayor with serious political clout.
This elected mayor will stand up for Cork and get the necessary funding.
Because today nobody is working for Cork.
When major employers like Apple start questioning the state of the infrastructure in Cork, we must listen to them.
Otherwise further inward investment will be jeopardised. The future of Cork is at stake.
The announcement of a ceasefire in Gaza after 466 hellish days is welcome.
But for the hundreds of thousands whose loved ones were killed, or who were permanently maimed, orphaned, or displaced from their homes during this barbaric conflict, it has come too late.
For many of the hostages, and their pain, it is also too late.
It was certainly too late for mother of seven Fidaa Ibraham, a project officer at Al Aqsa Sports Club, ActionAid Ireland’s partner in Gaza.
Her husband and brother died an excruciating death when an UNWRA school shelter the family were based in was attacked by Israeli military in May, last year.
Her children witnessed their father and uncle burning to death when the room the men were sleeping in went on fire after a bomb hit the building.
“I have lost so much. What should have been a chance for relief feels like a cruel reminder of the lives we’ve been robbed of... the love we’ve been forced to let go,” Fidaa told colleagues on hearing of the ceasefire deal this week.
As the truce comes into effect on Sunday, it is vital that all efforts immediately turn to addressing the staggering humanitarian need in Gaza where people are starving, children are freezing to death, and health services are critically poor.
Aid — particularly nutritious food, clean water, shelter items, medicines, and fuel — must be urgently sent into Gaza, while women and girls also need vital essentials like period products, as well as safe and private places to shelter.
Every international effort must be made to have the Israeli government revoke legislation to ban UNWRA from Gaza, the West Bank, and other parts of the Middle East.
This legislation is due to come into force on January 27 and will prove disastrous to the aid effort if it goes ahead.
The risk of increased illegal appropriation of land and violence in the West Bank also now grows.
At home, the Government must urgently enact the long-awaited Occupied Territories Bill.
It is the least we can do, and an appropriate legal response to the appalling breaches of international law that have happened in Gaza and the West Bank over the last 15 months.
The promise in the newly agreed programme for government to “advance” the Occupied Territories Bill is worryingly vague.
A much firmer commitment and timeline is needed. The new government must not be deflected by growing political and diplomatic pressure.
The Irish public clearly want this.
While the ceasefire agreement is a crucial step forward, there is still a very long way to go to achieve the justice and accountability that Palestinians deserve for the appalling atrocities that have been committed.
The Climate and Health Alliance is concerned that the incoming government is set to abandon its commitment to allocating a 2:1 ratio of the transport capital budget between new public transport and new road spending.
As the apocalyptic scenes from Los Angeles show, we are in the midst of a climate and public health catastrophe.
While welcoming broad commitments and reference to active and public transport within the draft programme for government, we are calling on the incoming government to prioritise sustainable forms of travel by allocating 20% of the transport budget to walking and cycling, and re-committing to investing the remaining 2:1 in favour of public transport over road maintenance spending.
Founded in 2019, the Climate and Health Alliance is a coalition of nearly 30 public health organisations and community groups from across the island of Ireland.
We campaign to highlight the enormous public health harms that arise from climate change while emphasising the significant health benefits that can be unlocked by tackling global warming.
Research shows that investing in public and active transport can deliver a multitude of health benefits, including increased physical activity, improved air quality, enhanced mental health and wellbeing, and ultimately, lower healthcare costs and waiting times.
On the other hand, there is extensive evidence demonstrating the detrimental social, health, psychological, and economic impacts of maintaining car dependence.
Indeed, failing to adequately invest in public transport and active travel facilities unfairly encumbers households with the mandatory financial burden of car dependence, which disproportionately impacts lower-income households and individuals.
The principle of prioritising public transport investment, first initiated by the last government, has already begun to see a positive shift to sustainable, healthy forms of travel: Record-breaking public transport usage, record numbers using the rural TFI Local Link bus services, and a huge increase in the number of schoolchildren walking and cycling to school are all achievements that this incoming government can build on.
This is backed by the public who yearn for greater public and active travel infrastructure.
A recent survey revealed that 50% of voters said the 2:1 ratio of spending on public transport to roads should be maintained, compared to 30% who opposed keeping the focus on public transport.
Worryingly, Ireland is on course to miss our climate targets, including for transport, unless drastic action is taken.
This risks contributing to the ever-worsening climate crisis and leading to enormous costly fines from the EU.
This incoming government has a unique opportunity to deliver a healthier, more sustainable society for this and the next generation.
A short few months before his last term as taoiseach came to an end in July 2022, Micheál Martin stated in Dáil Éireann: “However, there is a broader issue, it seems to me, following engagements I have had with the Traveller community that we need to comprehensively review. There is an otherness developing. Basically, the stock approaches are not working.”
Now with the imminent return of Mr Martin to the office of the taoiseach, it is time for him to walk the walk — we have heard him talk the talk.
The time to comprehensively address the Traveller accommodation and homelessness crisis is now.
Earlier this week, Martin Mongan wrote an article — ‘2 Johnnies felt ‘compelled’ to release new episode on infamous GAA catfish story’ — ( January 13).
Catfishing is an invisible crime with devastating consequences.
The release of the third instalment of the infamous GAA catfish saga by the 2 Johnnies earlier this week has reinforced my conviction that we must shine a light on this issue and work tirelessly to eliminate it.
In Ireland, a new bill is being introduced to criminalise catfishing, which will empower gardaí to take action against offenders.
At the EU level, the Digital Services Act is a positive step forward, as it holds platforms accountable for fake profiles.
However, it does not go far enough. We need tougher measures to protect people across the EU.
That’s why I am calling on the European Commission to take decisive action against catfishing by introducing an EU-wide identity verification requirement for social media platforms.
It’s time for Europe to step up and introduce robust rules to ensure social media platforms verify the identities of their users.
Protecting citizens from emotional exploitation and financial scams must be a top priority.
