Letters: Clueless powers that be continue to turn a blind eye to wealth inequality in this country

What is very noticeable in all of this is the deafening silence emanating from our political class; none seemed to raise so much as an eyebrow.

And doesn’t this tell the story of modern Ireland, a country riven from head to toe with wealth inequality?

A large section of the population struggle to keep a roof over their heads, while many thousands of others are homeless.

Many more are having their lives made miserable by having to pay huge rents, forcing them to ration food and access to energy and other necessities, with those on the lowest incomes suffering frequent disconnection from power because they cannot feed the meter.

In the face of this, we see no urgency from the powers that be to once and for all sort out the housing crisis and ensure that every citizen can access an affordable, safe place to live, be able to afford enough food to maintain good health and access the energy to properly prepare it. Is this too much to ask?

But the problem is now becoming more and more obvious.

There is a strata in Irish society that has become so detached from the everyday experience of so many that they can’t even hear the question.

​ Jim O’Sullivan, Rathedmond, Co Sligo

Whole world will pay the price for failing to address the causes of this conflict

Senan Molony is right that the crisis in Gaza could unleash horrors around the globe (‘As Middle East conflict deepens, it could unleash horrors across the world,’ Irish Independent, October 28).

With each passing day, killing and destruction wreak havoc on the lives of children, women, the most vulnerable and frail.

Basic services like healthcare, sanitation and education have become frighteningly fragile and out of service. There is a widespread lack of access to clean water and food.

People are trapped in a perpetuating cycle of death and starvation.

Being a child in Gaza means witnessing unspeakable violence on an unprecedented scale.

One day, the world will pay the price of failing to address the underlying causes of this conflict that is Israel’s occupation of Arab and Muslim lands.

Dr Munjed Farid Al Qutob, London

Trinity College should make a stand and revoke Joe Biden’s honorary degree

This week in Ballina, a citizen splattered red paint on a mural of the American president. It was done by someone who felt helpless in trying to stop Joe Biden’s total support for the onslaught on the Palestinian people.

It won’t save a single child, nor stop a single bullet being fired. But it, in its frustrated way, expressed support for those under siege.

In 2016, Trinity College’s chancellor, former Irish President Mary Robinson, bestowed an honorary doctorate on the then US vice-president. Ms Robinson is a former UN high commissioner for human rights and has been devoted to civil rights all her life.

Now would be a good time for Trinity to withdraw Mr Biden’s award.

Ms Robinson still stands for what made her the peace icon she is. It’s not her gift to remove the award. The college can.

When children and people are dying in targeted hospitals, then being buried in mass graves, it’s time for diplomatic and scholastic norms to be suspended.

John Cuffe

Co Meath

If Israel wants support from Ireland, it would help to learn of our history

Philip Ryan tells us, unsurprisingly, that many Israeli Jews think Ireland does not understand their country and that Arabs want to take over the world (‘Micheál Martin gets a taste of Israeli paranoia as he visits scene of savagery carried out by Hamas raiders,’ Irish Independent, November 18).

I wonder how many Israelis know about Bloody Sunday or Enniskillen or any of the atrocities committed in Northern Ireland during the Troubles?

The understandable fury of the mayor of Sderot, Alon Davidi, at the tense meeting with the Tánaiste last week underscores that reality when he said something to the effect of “when we took away the IRA guns, peace happened”.

​What happened in southern Israel on October 7 was despicable and unfathomable and should be condemned in the strongest possible terms. But if Israel thinks that by taking the guns away from Hamas while bludgeoning the civilian population in the process will lead to lasting peace, then they know very little about Ireland.

Tom McElligott, Listowel, Co Kerry

Provisions in Budget for carers, while belated, are an act of social justice

It may have gone unnoticed in the details of Budget 2024 that access to the contributory old age pension will improve for long-term carers from January.

For the first time ever, those who forwent their entitlement to work outside the home in order to look after a loved one for 20 years or more will get a long-term carer’s contribution on their PRSI record for each week that they provided full-time care. These contributions will be invaluable in helping them to qualify for the contributory old age pension, which must be applied for.

This commendable provision is wonderful news for those who feared being left without an independent income in their golden years on the grounds that they had not paid PRSI on their meagre carer’s allowance.

Even though carers provide long-term care, with love, compassion and considerable self-sacrifice, they were thus far denied a contributory old age pension.

In addition to the beautiful gift of living at home in the bosom of their families that carers bestow on their dependent loved ones, they also save the State millions in residential costs. Carers are angels of mercy who do their loved ones a noble service. They are shining examples of the goodness and the generosity of spirit that permeates Irish society.

It isn’t an act of charity to pay carers a contributory old age pension. Rather, it’s an act of social justice. Carers make their contribution through their selfless dedication to those in need. They more than earn their contributory old age pensions. Well done to the Government for recognising that fact, however belatedly.

Billy Ryle, Tralee, Co Kerry