Letters: Is xenophobia about to go mainstream, courtesy of the new citizenship law?

The past three decades have seen two-tierism stitched deeply into the fabric of our society, with the gap between the “haves” and the “have-nots” growing by the day directly as a consequence of government policy.

Just look at health, education, housing and access to basic utilities – the discrimination and unfairness is now stark.

The excuse being used to introduce this change in “citizenship” laws is to protect citizen type-A (homegrown) from citizen type-B (import). “We can’t trust Johnny Foreigner” is the clear dog whistle detectable here. The concern must be that this is pandering to a very base mindset.

And maybe, just maybe, someone will explain to us all what will happen to the person whose “citizenship” has been revoked. Are we looking at a Rwanda-style removal scheme?

Where will the person stripped of their citizenship go? Those who dreamed up this idea might consider if it is at all possible that their thought processes are burdened with some prejudice or other.

Or maybe this is just the first shot of what promises to be a very dirty general election. Is xenophobia about to go mainstream?

Jim O’Sullivan, Rathedmond, Sligo

Colm Keys spot on about the mess GAA has made of the inter-county game

Colm Keys laid bare the mess the GAA has made in its determination to make the inter-county game the only show in town.

In my opinion, between the GPA and GAAGO, a competition that once minted golden legends has been reduced to a shadow of its former self.

Teams beaten three times are still in. A plethora of matches within four groups to eliminate four teams from 16. Whose interests are at stake there? It’s a bloated pig of a competition, destroying all around it.

If the GAA is to remain relevant as an amateur sport, it must stop the head-long rush into professionalism. Fewer inter-county games, more cut-and-thrust games with jeopardy and a recognition that the county player and manager is an ordinary member of the GAA family, not a sacred cow. Less is more.

John Cuffe, Co Meath

Fianna Fáil’s two-faced position on Von der Leyen is simply staggering

It appears very likely that Ursula von der Leyen will secure a second term as President of the European Commission.

During the European election, all the Fianna Fáil candidates were clear they would not vote for her, yet the party gets to nominate Ireland’s next commissioner, who is very likely to be an existing Fianna Fáil cabinet minister. So Fianna Fáil has to nomi­nate one of its ministers to serve in the cabinet of a person they have no confidence in.

That Fianna Fáil nominee will have to serve in Ms Von der Leyen’s commission and publicly express full confidence in her, despite their own MEPs expressing no confidence.

No doubt some cheeky journalist will ask the nominee if they agree with the stance of their MEPs in opp­osing Ms Von der Leyen and if they have confidence in their own MEPs.

How can Fianna Fáil be so vociferously opposed to Ms Von der Leyen and yet have no problem cheering one of their own to serve under her for the next five years?

Perhaps the tried and tested excuse of the “national interest” will be rolled out to explain their two-faced stance.

Jason Fitzharris, Swords, Co Dublin

Low blow from Ryanair in its comments over Greens chief Ryan’s resignation

May I, through your paper, condemn Ryanair for its comments in relation to the resignation of Eamon Ryan?

How low can a company stoop for publicity?

Paul Doran, Dublin 22

All the new Green Party leader needs is a bike and a lamp to find his or her way

The basic requirement for the new Green Party leader is that they wear a safety helmet when cycling and have that bike fitted with a headlamp to clearly find their way.

Ted O’Keeffe, Dublin 6

I don’t even have the stamina to watch the Rose of Tralee competition

We read of the gruelling bootcamp that Rose of Tralee escorts must undergo to test their stamina.

I confess that “sadly” I lack the stamina to even sit through the two nights of the competition itself.

Tom Gilsenan, Beaumont, Dublin 9

Ian O’Doherty cannot have it both ways when it comes to hate speech

With respect to Ian O’Doherty, he can’t have it both ways.

On April 3, he wrote in your paper: “If hate-speech bill becomes law, we’ll all end up in court for voicing our opinion.”

In Wednesday’s Irish Independent, he asked: “How is it possible that Irish heroine Rhasidat Adeleke can be abused under a cloak of secrecy?’

Eamon Ryan has said one of the reasons he is calling time on his long and distinguished political career is because of the invective levelled against him and his late father on social media.

Words have consequences, how­ever they are expressed. Free speech is not limitless.

Those who spread vitriolic abuse against Rhasidat Adeleke should face the full rigours of the law, irrespective of who they are and how they are made, anonymously or otherwise.

Tom McElligott, Listowel, Co Kerry

News fatigue? Not quite sure, but no news is good news, as my granny said

I see the Irish public is suffering from “news fatigue”. That’s news to me.

But it reminds me of how right my grandmother was with her oft repeated “no news is good news”.

Peter Declan O’Halloran, Belturbet, Co Cavan

Having to pay extra to receive a printed bill is unfair in the extreme

It seems unjust to make me pay an extra €2 on my phone bill because I receive it on paper in the mail, which I then pay in the post office.

Why should I have to pay an extra €2 each month because I do not pay online using the online system?

Richard Cruise, Dún Laoghaire, Co Dublin