Letters: Heartening to see so many young people looking to effect change in politics

Age should never be an issue and time is on the side of all the young hopefuls, but the same old issues will keep cropping up on the doorsteps.

As a teacher, I feel like giving an end-of-term report on all of the nine young potential politicians but since it’s their first trip on the hustings, an assessment will have to suffice.

First of all, I would like to encourage all of the young people and I do think that they are all very brave entering politics at a young age and I have always encouraged young people that I was teaching to get involved in politics. There is always the need for new blood in every organisation – and politics is no different.

In 1979, Ivan Yates, at 19 years of age, was elected to Wexford County Council and two years later he was elected a TD for Wexford.

When our Taoiseach was elected in 2011, Heather Humphreys thought he was a student on a school tour of Leinster House.

It is possible to make it at a young age if the opportunity arises.

I am impressed with the young political hopefuls. I see that Ben Ward and Joey Kennedy are following in the tradition of their grandfathers and I did not think this was as prevalent as it once was, but I like to see it.

I see Charlie Hackett following in the footsteps of his mother, a junior minister, and his councillor father.

We see James Stokes trying to skip a generation.

Mistura Oyebanji was attracted to the Social Democrats by the leadership of Holly Cairns.

John Lonergan is setting about tackling for change.

Ryan McKeown believes politics needs to work for the people.

Melissa Byrne joined the political party that is left leaning and pro-life.

I would tell their parents to encourage them to keep working between now and June 7 and that is when the real exam will take place.

I have tallied a lot of ballot papers in my time and the result can be very apparent in the early hours of the following morning.

I wish all of the young people the very best of luck. Some may succeed, others may not. ​

Thomas Garvey, Claremorris, Co Mayo

Becoming a soldier should be a choice as only most dedicated will prosper

It’s not a new idea. Putting delinquents into the army has often been proposed as a solution to society’s problems but has rarely occurred.

There are few problems in society that can be solved by hiding them or moving them elsewhere – a common approach with refugees in many countries including Australia.

Most 18-year-olds spend their time studying a bit, working so they can buy alcohol, and occasionally being annoying but in general they are good people. They don’t want to spend the weekends doing good deeds in khaki.

The army option is even worse as the military won’t want weekend warriors, but dedicated people who decide to enlist to serve their country.

Don’t embarrass and insult those who have served by forcing youths to wear the green uniforms.

Dennis Fitzgerald, Melbourne, Australia

Bleak world of EU politics exposed, maybe we should have a viewer warning

My 16-year-old Toyota navigation system has a warning message about the consequences of watching it while driving. Sometimes I wish my television had the same warning.

With the political sate of the world and indeed our issues in our own country, a similar question pops up warning me if I really want to see what’s going on in the interests of protecting my mental health.

A case in point recently was the Tonight programme on Virgin Media One where the always-professional Claire Brock was interviewing Dublin candidates for the European elections.

All candidates agreed that the EU Commission’s president had handled the current Israeli-Gaza conflict badly and the continued support by the EU for Israel’s actions and the devastating consequences was wrong.

However, when Brock asked Fine Gael’s Regina Doherty about her position, she agreed with the other candidates that Ursula von der Leyen’s actions on and after October 7 were wrong and continue to be so.

However, she said if she was lucky enough to be elected she would have her support as the European People’s Party’s candidate “as you have to look at the situation in the round”.

Thanks to Claire Brock’s direct question I know all I need to about European politics. Now I really wish my Samsung TV was made by Toyota.

Nick Crawford, Dalkey, Co Dublin

Keane dispels myth about ageing, so now I’m all fired up to attend writers’ event

For weeks I had been asking myself if, at my age, I would be able for Listowel Writers’ Week this year.

Then, halfway through my porridge, on Saturday morning, I turned to Keane’s Kingdom.

Once again Billy had the answer, “Would I what?”.

Mattie Lennon, Blessington, Co Wicklow

Dáil should fly both Israeli and Palestinian flags to promote message of peace

For the attention of the Ceann Comhairle of Dáil Éireann, please consider flying both the Palestinian flag and the Israeli flag over the Oireachtas tomorrow.

The Taoiseach stated this week that the recognition of the Palestinian state “is a statement of unequivocal support for a two-state solution, the only credible path to peace and security for Israel, for Palestine and for their peoples”.

I therefore believe the more appropriate symbolic gesture the State can make on behalf of the Irish people is to fly both flags side by side, as it would be an expression of our solidarity and vision for a lasting peace for all involved.

Michael Clifford, Address with editor

Netanyahu ought to face the rigours of justice, but ICC is too toothless for this

For far too long the rational world has stood back and watched Israel destroy Gaza, killing tens of thousands of unarmed civilians, in the guise of ridding itself of Hamas.

We have all watched the news roll in day after day since October 7 as Israel has killed 35,000 innocent people – mostly women and children.

Yes, the International Criminal Court (ICC) has sought the arrest of both Hamas and Israeli leaders but does anyone, anywhere, expect much action from a totally toothless, if lippy, organisation? Benjamin Netanyahu must be brought to court, but by a body capable of doing so.

David Ryan, Co Meath