Letters: State must acknowledge its past failings to mark the anniversary of Dublin-Monaghan bombings

I planned to once again be at the Talbot Street memorial on the anniversary. I worked in the then Dublin County Council offices on Parnell Square at the time.

I was in town that evening in 1974, also a Friday, in Barry’s Hotel, having a few jars with colleagues. I was 22. Had I not been in the hotel, I could well have been at the Parnell Square-Parnell Street junction walking to Merrion Street for the bus. But there were no buses. A strike was afoot.

Úachtarán na hÉireann Michael D Higgins and An Taoiseach Simon Harris were present for the wreath-laying service yesterday afternoon.

While this may well be fine and good for many, it also needs to be remembered that the State they now represent utterly failed to investigate this atrocity to any acceptable level.

Despite this, I hope an acknowledgement of past failings can be made. Were it not for fate and luck, I myself might not be around.

Larry Dunne, Rosslare Harbour, Co Wexford

Netflix show ‘Bodkin’ is paddywhackery at its worst and a huge let down

I recently watched Bodkin on Netflix and had to give up halfway through episode three.

I approached it with an open mind. Finding myself with nothing to watch, I decided to give it a go. However, at seven episodes, it is long torture.

Hardly any of the characters are likeable. The only one I enjoyed was slippery Sean, played by Chris Walley (Jock from The Young Offenders). He plays and looks the part of the local chancer wearing his football shirt. He proves he can play parts other than Jock.

Ireland is portrayed as a place of 20-year-old secrets with nobody willing to talk to the podcaster lead characters.

Modern Ireland is very different. Like everywhere else, everybody wants their five minutes of fame and would be more than willing to talk on a podcast.

Not only that, they would be willing to embellish their story so their voice would be used on the ads for the podcast

Scenes of a wake were particularly outdated. Random strangers don’t turn up for free drink and food and then criticise the sandwiches. There was complete disrespect for the dead. Nowadays, most wakes are private, and if there is a gathering of people, it is close friends and family with little or no alcohol.

As for the woman in the post office who gave a monologue when asked for simple directions, I doubt An Post would be impressed.

Also, the scene of a character staging a break-in at the local library and ripping out the pages of a book made no sense.

The B&B was very outdated, the type last seen in the 1980s, complete with the avocado bathroom.

Overall, it is paddywhackery at its worst. It is disappointing that the Obamas were producers.

The next day, still with nothing to watch, I considered a return to Bodkin, but decided I didn’t care what had happened.

Mary McGovern, Sligo

Treating all candidates with respect in run-up to the elections gets my vote

I condemn all attacks on politicians. A person confident of their position should be able to engage in respectful debate with others.

Similarly, protests should be respectful and homes should be considered out of bounds. Anything else shows a lack of respect.

Respect is a two-way street, and I would point out to politicians that evading questions during interviews just shows a lack of respect for viewers, listeners, readers, voters and interviewers.

Constantly interrupting an opponent to prevent them making their point and talking on for the sake of monopolising time, depriving opponents of their share, also shows a lack of respect.

“Give respect, get respect” is a maxim we all should adopt.

As we are on the last lap towards the local and European elections, I would ask all to show respect to all the candidates.

You don’t have to agree with someone’s belief or point of view or party membership to respect them, but you do have to show respect to show yourself worthy of it.

Those seeking “a stroke” from the voters deserve our respect unless they demonstrate otherwise.

Paddy Murray, Castlepollard, Co Westmeath

Anti-social behaviour at portal is not a bit of craic, it’s hugely embarrassing

Emma Nolan writes chasteningly at finger-wagging, guilt-laden Catholic Ireland for getting hot under the collar or getting its knickers in a twist over the behaviour of some on display last week at our new portal (‘Moral panic over portal is out of control – it’s time we embraced Dublin humour’, Irish Independent, May 15).

I thought there weren’t any Catholics in Ireland these days. Now they are the problem, along with, presumably, Americans for taking umbrage at supposed Dublin humour.

There is nothing wrong with a bit of craic or enjoyment between the Dublin and New York portal users, but anti-social behaviour shouldn’t be accepted as some sort of messing about. It’s not Dublin humour, it’s moronic and is probably more representative of Trumpian humour than any good-natured craic or wit usually associated with Dubliners. We are better than that.

Aidan Roddy, Cabinteely, Dublin 18

It’s hard not to be wracked with guilt when children are being killed on live TV

The really sickening thing about watching the news at present is viewing the evil of children being killed and maimed in Gaza and not being able to help in any way whatsoever. It makes one feel guilty, and so we should.

The other night, I saw a wounded child being carried out of the rubble, followed by someone carrying a small body bag.

Surely humanity (which is all of us) can’t allow this dreadful, sickening evil to continue.

Brian McDevitt, Glenties, Co Donegal

Hospitals are at breaking point, yet foreign doctors cannot get registered

Yesterday, I met a very competent and articulate young lady from Central America, who was searching for a room in Dublin.

Nothing strange there – crowds of people seem to be looking for rooms. It transpired that, although working in a normal job, she is a qualified doctor. Her registration in Ireland can take up to four years.

Our hospitals are beyond breaking point and many of our young doctors have disappeared, yet foreign doctors cannot seem to access a speedy registration process here.

Let’s pray that these foreign doctors don’t start looking at a world map. We need them in Ireland.

Margaret Docherty, Terenure, Dublin 6W

State’s focus on building new homes does little to alleviate the housing crisis

In a housing debate, the Tánaiste and leader of Fianna Fáil, Micheál Martin, emphasised the importance of increasing housing supply through the construction of new housing units. However, it is evident that the Government, much as in recent referendums, is failing to address the core issues.

The current support schemes implemented by the Government exclusively cater to new builds, neglecting the needs of prospective buyers looking at second-hand homes.

This forces young people seeking homes in established neighbourhoods to the outskirts of urban centres, or even into rural areas, in a desperate search for properties that might barely fall within their financial reach. As a result, many find themselves compelled to rent homes at exorbitant prices in order to stay within the communities where they grew up.

The lack of support for buying second-hand homes, whether by design or oversight, is effectively causing the separation of families.

Another significant obstacle contributing to the housing affordability crisis is the Central Bank’s restriction on loan-to-earnings ratios, limiting potential buyers’ access to mortgages despite their ability to afford higher (and obscene) monthly rent payments. This disparity highlights a systemic issue in the housing market that needs to be addressed.

Merely focusing on the construction of new homes to cater to institutional investors and speculators will not alleviate the housing crisis; instead, it risks widening the wealth gap and further enriching the affluent.

Thomas O’Connor, Crumlin, Dublin