Devote more energy to atomic argument

France decided to go nuclear in 1973. Electricity is now 66 per cent more expensive in Ireland than in France.
Fintan Ryan, Borris, Co Carlow

MaREI figures explained
Quinn made some misleading references to results from recent MaREI Centre research. We explored the implications of government targets for climate action, including the aim to achieve 70 per cent of the annual electricity production from renewable sources by 2030. We estimated an investment between now and 2030 of €32 billion.

We also considered the government’s ambitions for improving insulation and heating systems in our homes and the charging infrastructure associated with increased use of electric vehicles. The investment required would come to a further €30 billion by 2030, we estimated. Quinn incorrectly concludes that together these costs come to more than €100 billion.

The €62 billion we, in fact, calculated are investments and not costs. The investments we quantified for home insulation will lead to reduced fuel bills up to and beyond 2030. In addition, Ireland’s electricity demand is expected to grow more than 30 per cent by 2030, so investment in new power plants will be required, irrespective of whether they are renewable or fossil-fuelled.
Professor Brian Ó Gallachóir, Director, MaREI, University College Cork

Nuclear power? No thanks!
Quinn proposes nuclear power, but we had that argument 50 years ago. Carnsore Point, anyone? Nuclear power stations are expensive and slow to build. Nuclear power is not carbon-free — think of the steel and concrete needed to build stations. It can never be 100 per cent safe: witness Chernobyl (human error) and Fukushima (tsunami). There is still no long-term plan for disposal of nuclear waste.
Michael Boyle, Rathfarnham, Dublin 14

RELIGION JUST AS IMPORTANT AS PUB
In one sense the headline “No need of churches” (Letters, last week) was correct. But let me point out that the word “ecclesia” comes from Greek and signifies assembly or community. It is also the case that spiritual matters have a bearing on psychology. It follows that normal religious services can be an aid to mental health. To that extent, opening churches, of any denomination, is just as important as opening pubs, restaurants and the like.
Gerald Murphy, Rathfarnham

Prayer has two sides
Your headline was based on a letter from Hugh O’Neill of Limerick, who made a sarcastic, derisive and ignorant comment that the faithful, instead of going to church, could “pray to the invisible man in the sky”. He is clearly unaware that churchgoers can individually visit a church to pray at present, and ignorant of the community aspect of the religious worshipping together at ceremonies.
Ciarán McArdle, Blackrock, Co Dublin

Christianity is progressive
We have swapped Catholic-Christian orthodoxy for puritanical “woke” culture. Whatever the shortcomings of Christianity, it at least allowed for redemption, and its sectarian divisions in the post-Reformation era eventually gave way to tolerance of dissent. I’m not a Christian, but in my experience it is far easier to have a civil disagreement with most Christians than it is with most woke fundamentalists.
Andrew Devine-Rattigan, Westport, Co Mayo

Church is just people
Gerard Howlin (“Belief in public opinion has replaced religion”, Comment, last week) was correct in commenting that the focus for the Catholic Church should be on its relevance rather than its reputation.

In an era when religion seems to be relegated to the periphery of a secularising society, at a time when conscious conviction is required rather than blind conformity, the church has the ability to be relevant through participation in education, healthcare, poverty relief and social justice.

The depictions in the media of “the church” as a hierarchical institution are outdated. When we think of the GAA, we don’t think about the administrators in Croke Park. We see it as consisting of people, who forge relationships and meet the needs of others in their local community.

The same applies to the church — if only people recognised it in this way.
Michael Egan, Rathmines, Dublin 6

Return to faith is coming
If anything, I think congregations will be larger when our anti-church government declares the Covid all-clear.

Thousands of people have become disillusioned with materialism and the high-tech bubble, and know that a simple incident such as an EMP (electric magnetic pulse) attack on the Earth would make all technology useless, thus sending Ireland hurtling back to the Stone Age.

That would make people realise they had been sold a pipe dream.
John Finegan, Bailieborough, Co Cavan

GREENS NOT TAKING NOTE OF VOTERS
In light of the fact there are now effectively three government candidates for the forthcoming Seanad by-election (“Hazel Chu resolute in Green chair amid Seanad row”, News, last week), it seems more than a little strange that many Green Party members of the Oireachtas prefer to back Fianna Fail and Fine Gael candidates rather than someone from their own party.

While the smaller party in government usually acts as a mudguard for its larger partner, this latest move from the Greens drops the party below even that status. Perhaps it is simply the green wing of Fianna Fail and Fine Gael. I sincerely doubt this is what many of its members and elected representatives — let alone its voters — were looking for at the last general election.
Micheál de hÍde, East Wall, Dublin 3

Left squeezed out of power
Your interview with the Labour Party leader, Alan Kelly, illustrates the tragedy of Irish politics (“Still time for me to be taoiseach, says Kelly”, News, last week). Fianna Fail and Fine Gael, two identical former right-wing parties, swap the position of taoiseach between them with only the faux left and the IRA-tainted Sinn Fein standing in the wings to replace them. These options will always and for ever be an anathema to left-of-centre unionists like myself.

I like Kelly, but he has no real platform on which to build and this article does him no favours. Did I read anything about his policies? Afraid not.
Boyd Gray, Lifford, Co Donegal

PARTY TIME WITH PRINCE PHILIP
I was a guest of the Queen at the Palace garden party in 2016. An usher came up to me, I assume since I stood out in my traditional Islamic attire, and asked if I would like to meet Prince Philip.

We talked about my position in the community, where I am from and the weather, of course. As he walked away, I called out to him: “Your Highness, you have a gorgeous wife!” He turned back, laughed and shouted: “Go and tell her!”

At the end of the party I was speaking to the Queen but I lost my nerve. Prince Philip, I could see, was disappointed. Now I would like to fulfil the task he set me, and say, from Prince Philip and me: Your Majesty, you are gorgeous.
Sheikh Dr Hojjat Ramzy, Director, Oxford Islamic Information Centre

IN THE SWIM AT 80 — AND PROUD OF IT
Oh dear, do I detect a note of envy (“When did wild swimmers get so annoying?” Online, News Review, last week)? Yes, perhaps we do go on a bit, but that’s because it makes us feel so good. I’m an old broad of 80, and to stop me going nuts during lockdown, a dip in the sea works wonders. You should really try it, but then we gals far outnumber you chaps — I wonder why. As for the Dryrobe, let me tell you it is the best thing since sliced bread. Not everyone is capable of standing on one leg on a shingle beach to change into their pants.

Come join the party!
Dee Saccone, Hove

POINTS
Morris not a tax dodger
With regard to your article “Naked Ape author begins a new chapter in Ireland” (News, last week), Desmond Morris was ahead of his time in human behaviour and is a fascinating visual artist. Accusing him of tax avoidance is shabby, given Morris’s circumstances. I’m quite sure the good people of Kildare have welcomed this wonderful, creative, life-affirming man more graciously than The Sunday Times.
Peter Hall, Phibsborough, Dublin 7

No shame in artist scheme
The artists’ tax exemption scheme is the best thing Charlie Haughey did for Ireland. It costs little, because most of the beneficiaries would not otherwise be resident in Ireland. Its aim is to enhance the cultural life of the country. Since it is part of the tax law of a sovereign state, no opprobrium attaches to those who avail themselves of it.
David Parris, Dublin 7

Living in isolation
“Working from home” — also known as “living with work” — has put Irish people into survival mode (“Public faith in lockdown falters”, News, last week). Without the joy and pleasure of working with people and having basic interactions, we are being worn down.

We need something to look forward to, but each time we think we’re getting there, we are slapped again.
Vincent Dower, Dublin Pike, Co Cork

Lockdown just a myth
On my 5km limited walk around my local area last Sunday, there were building gangs working on sites and I saw a pop-up shebeen. Everybody is fed up with waiting on vaccines that are being misappropriated. Meanwhile, the government pretends we are in a level 5 lockdown and the public pretend they’re going along with it. The results of your poll came as no surprise.
A C Connolly, Mallow, Co Cork

Check out but never leave
Mandatory hotel quarantine is an abomination, unbelievably introduced at close to the end of the pandemic. While many countries are vaccinating their way out of this mess, Ireland seems determined to prevent its people from getting back to normal, a normal that includes overseas travel.

If you create a quango whose only mandate is public health, then of course it is going to recommend everything that delivers even the most marginal of gains. It does not have to take responsibility for the knock-on effects elsewhere.
James Ryan, Dundrum, Dublin

Peace in our hands
Reading Christopher Hart’s review of The Handshake by Ella Al-Shamahi (Books, March 28) put me in mind of one of the most famous handshakes in Irish history, at St Patrick’s Cathedral. In 1492 two of the dynastic families of Ireland, the FitzGeralds of Kildare and the Butlers of Ormonde, were involved in a bitter feud. The latter took refuge in the chapter house of the cathedral, fearing for their lives.

As a gesture of good faith, Gerald FitzGerald had a hole cut in the door and thrust his arm through, offering his hand in peace to the Butlers. Recognising his conciliatory gesture, the Butlers emerged, and the two families made their peace. As well as showing the power of the handshake, the gesture also gave rise to the phrase “chancing your arm”.
Mark Lawler, Kilmainham, Dublin 8

Bertie Bowl reconsidered
I was astonished to read (News, March 28) that the Irish taxpayer has spent €190 million on the redevelopment of Lansdowne Road stadium. Maybe the Bertie Bowl wasn’t such a bad idea after all.
David Smyth Co Leitrim

Art of gaming
The Sunday Times Culture section is a wonderful read, delving as it does into the sorts of thing that give value to life. Is it not about time that computer and console games were given a seat at the adults’ table? Not only do games provide a complete visual and audio experience that rivals any other form of art, they also place the player at the centre of that experience.
Ceri Roberts, Uckfield, East Sussex

Lisa Stansfield is 55 today

STUART C. WILSON/GETTY IMAGES

BIRTHDAYS
Jeremy Clarkson, presenter and writer, 61
Bob Harris, broadcaster, 75
Thomas Harris, writer, 81
Matt Holland, former Ireland captain, 47
Cerys Matthews, musician and broadcaster, 52
Lisa Stansfield, singer, 55
Joss Stone, singer, 34
Prof Sir Andrew Wiles, mathematician, 68