Letters to the Editor, December 6th: On RTÉ’s Eurovision boycott, taxis, drones and commuter woes
Sir, – Your editorial “Public service media. Grappling with change,” (December 5th) suggests that because of increased, multi-annual funding from the State for RTÉ, the effect will be to erode the “arm’s length principle that once insulated public media from political influence”.
I would submit that, for perhaps the wrong reasons, there is little cause for concern.
However, the wider principle of ministerial responsibility does feature as an issue.
RTÉ’s decision, along with three other countries, not to enter next year’s Eurovision Song Contest because of Israel’s participation has received world attention and widespread support here in Ireland.
Despite this, a statement from the Minister for Communications, Patrick O’Donovan, simply informs us that “this is a matter for the Director General and for the company themselves”.
Surely, given its importance, the public is entitled to expect at least some indication of the Government’s view on the matter?
RTÉ is our public broadcaster, over half of its funding comes from the tax payer, all of its activities are scrutinised by the relevant Oireachtas committees and the Department of Culture, Communications and Sport acts as its government parent body, managing its regulatory and financial environment.
Appointments to the board are made by the Government on the nomination of the Minister in order to ensure public accountability and good governance.
From that perspective, I am reminded of the bicycle shed and security hut controversies in 2024 when Mr O’Donovan, as minister responsible for the Office of Public Works, eschewed responsibility for these matters of public concern.
Recent events have, of course, meant that this country’s relations with Israel are now at a critical stage. It would appear, therefore, that the principle of ministerial responsibility continues to kick in only when the political climate, both domestically and internationally, in the view of Ministers, is deemed receptive and risk free. – Yours, etc,
MARTIN Mc DONALD,
Terenure,
Dublin 12.
Sir, – RTÉ as a national broadcaster should be detached from politics. Its decision not to partake in the Eurovision and also to censor the broadcast to its licence-paying citizens feels anything but.
Despite well-meaning intentions, isolationism and censorship do not solve issues. We saw this when the British government and the BBC attempted similar with section 31 of the Broadcasting Act 1981 in the UK. – Yours, etc,
SIMON BLAKE,
Munich,
Germany.
Sir, – It is disappointing to hear that RTÉ intends to boycott the 2026 Eurovision Song Contest, now that Israel’s involvement has been approved.
People pay their licence fee to access entertainment, and should be allowed choose whether they want to watch the event or not.
In the same way, performers here should be free to choose whether to put themselves forward or not. – Yours, etc,
BRIAN QUIGLEY,
Drumcondra,
Dublin 9.
Sir, – Israel’s president Isaac Herzog states that Israel “deserves to be represented on every stage in the world”. Really? – Yours, etc,
MARC MURPHY,
Cranmore Park,
Belfast.
Sir, – The decision by RTÉ to boycott next year’s Eurovision Song Contest is the wrong decision.
The European Broadcasting Union (EBU), which runs the competition, is not involved in the “appalling loss of lives in Gaza and the humanitarian crisis there”, nor are the participants.
That charge could only be levied at the Israeli government. We need to promote healing, open hearts and minds, not close them or shut out voices. – Yours, etc,
AIDAN RODDY,
Cabinteely,
Dublin 18.
Sir, – I admire and applaud the RTÉ decision regarding non-participation in the Eurovision Song Contest.
Perhaps the Government will show the same backbone regarding the implementation of the Occupied Territories Bill. – Yours, etc,
MIKE MURPHY,
Ballsbridge,
Dublin 4.
Sir, – As we are rightfully sitting out the Eurovision this year, there is a music event-sized gap in our diaries. Could we hold a concert or contest with our fellow conscientious objectors instead?
Proceeds could be given to Gaza. – Yours, etc,
DR MARIE CASEY,
Kilmallock,
Limerick.
Sir, – RTÉ’s decision not to broadcast the Eurovision Song Contest will measurably improve the overall standard of music broadcasting in this country in 2026. – Yours, etc,
RICHARD BANNISTER,
Kildare.
Herzog Park renaming
Sir, – The contrasting responses to the heinous mass murders of tens of thousands of innocents in Gaza on the one hand, and in Syria and in Sudan on the other, might seem puzzling.
The solution to the apparent riddle is not that some victims are more worthy of our sympathy than others, but rather that some aggressors are more than others worthy of our outrage.
Pondering the reasons behind this hypersensitivity will also go some way to explaining the rush of blood to the head suffered by the Dublin city councillors in seeking to rename Herzog Park. – Yours, etc,
NEIL CRONIN,
Mallow,
Co Cork.
Sir, – The proposal to rename Herzog Park was hurtful and insulting to the small Jewish community in Ireland and should never have been considered.
However, it is disturbing that this relatively minor debacle has attracted more media coverage, letters and general outrage than the continued killing of children happening in Gaza, despite the ceasefire.
This ill-thought through proposal provided plenty of fodder to the Netanyahu regime’s false narrative that equates Irish support for Palestinians with anti-Semitism.
We need to be careful that the Occupied Territories Bill isn’t going to be similarly counterproductive and just serve as a useful distraction from the ongoing violence and injustices. – Yours, etc,
KAY CHALMERS,
Douglas,
Cork.
Depressing commuter tales
Sir, – The stories of commuters taking three hours to travel some 35km on the N7 on weekdays is truly depressing (“The 3.5-hour, 35km commute: Kildare motorists on their M7 traffic ‘nightmare’,” December 5th).
That said I’m surprised more of them aren’t aware of the facility known as the “magic indicator”.
This is used by increasing numbers of drivers putting on their left indicator and travelling for three or four kilometres on the hard shoulder.
Of course, this facility is open to abuse, but is generally used only by people who are in a hurry. – Yours, etc,
BRENDAN McMAHON,
Naas,
Co Kildare
E-scooter dangers
Sir, – When I was growing up in the Stone Age, we were constantly reminded, when crossing the road, to look right, then left, then right again. With the advent of e-scooters, I now find myself having to do the same when stepping on to the footpath. – Yours, etc,
HUGH McDONNELL,
Drumcondra,
Dublin 9.
Trouble with taxis
Sir, – For various reasons I often travel to Dublin by train, making some journeys within the capital by taxi, for meetings and other events. I was surprised on Wednesday night to find a level of chaos impacting on this simple process.
As I understand it, at some recent point many of our taxi drivers decided to insert an American technology company between me and them in our financial transaction, giving the intermediary a cut.
They now spend evenings driving slowly around the city causing noisy delays and inconvenience to communicate their dissatisfaction with this arrangement.
I imagine staff at Uber will be prompted to change their business strategy forthwith. – Yours, etc,
BRIAN O’BRIEN,
Co Cork.
Sir, – As an occasional taxi user, can I suggest that Dublin’s taxi drivers would be far more effective in protesting Uber’s fixed fares by closing their Uber accounts and plying for trade via other apps or on the street.
If Uber has no drivers then it will have no customers, generate no profits and its fixed fares plan will die a natural death without the inconvenience caused by the taxi drivers’ current ineffective plans. – Yours, etc,
BRIAN SMITH,
Chapelizod,
Dublin 20.
Airport connections
Sir, – As a member of the demographic who write letters to newspapers, I may not live long enough to ever travel on Metro North.
But while we wait for the endless judicial reviews and indulge in further navel gazing, there are blindingly obvious temporary solutions to connect the city centre to Dublin Airport.
A Glider-type flexi bus – as used in Belfast – from Connolly Station along the Luas route to the Point – or even just from the Point Luas stop through the Port Tunnel on a continuous 15-minute loop. A no brainer! – Yours, etc,
RORY E MacFLYNN,
Blackrock,
Co Dublin.
Drones and Ireland’s defences
Sir, – Despite many warnings over many years regarding our lack of defence capability, the incident on Monday evening involving drones being sighted as the aircraft carrying Ukraine’s president Volodymyr Zelenskiy approached Dublin Airport highlights once again our defence deficiencies.
No doubt, we can expect more incidents of a similar nature when Ireland assumes the presidency of the European Council next July, and will host a number of events.
Given that the State is effectively defenceless, and concerns have been expressed about our defence and security capability, will our European partners decide that a visit to Ireland is simply to much of a risk at this time of heightened concerns regarding defence and security Europe wide?
Time will tell. – Yours, etc,
CONOR HOGARTY,
Co Dublin.
A proposal for Ukraine
Sir, – The concept of sacrificial states or buffer states between eastern and western Europe has a long history.
Indeed, the Holy Roman Empire itself was such an entity, and later the new German state, supported at its inception by Britain and France, separated Russia from western Europe.
The integration of the eastern regions of Ukraine into the Russian Federation would appear to be not a buffer, but a further vulnerability, a territorial burden for Russia, leaving aside any natural resources to be exploited.
The spatial developments in warfare related to drone technology suggest that an extensive demilitarised zone might offer real security to erstwhile neighbours.
The unfortunate inhabitants of Donbas Oblast and Dnipr Oblast might welcome an enduring respite associated with a comprehensive demilitarisation, with international supervision, after 11 years of belligerence, of an area equivalent to the lands between the Dnipr and the Don, but extended north.
Issues of the administration, degrees of autonomy and language rights could be progressively addressed in such a context.
The occupied territories of Ukraine, “the land without borders”, by this arrangement achieve for Russia what Russian occupation and hegemony will not. – Yours, etc,
PAUL ARNOLD,
Wicklow.
Rebalancing capital gains tax
Sir, – The Central Bank and the Banking and Payments Federation Ireland both published research reports this week, noting the low level of Irish household investment.
The Irish Times commenting on these reports on December 2nd said: “New reports show low level of Irish household investment,” and in the Cantillon column of December 4th stated: “Financial services sector failing customers”.
Apparently Irish investors prefer the surety of property and bank deposits. The Government must take some of the blame for this situation, and could encourage other forms of investment, such as ETFs and funds as a way to spread risk.
But the Government imposes a deemed disposal regime, which is a unique tax rule in Ireland.
Even if you do not sell your ETF or funds, you are liable for tax on gains every eight years. They could go further by equalising capital gain tax rates and allowing set-off against losses on ETFs and funds.
Hopefully we would then see a more balanced investment scene. – Yours, etc,
ALAN McCARTHY,
Dublin 6.
Memories of an amazing airman
Sir, – Frank McNally’s recalling of the story of Ron McPartland, the first and only pilot to eject from a jet aircraft in Ireland, will be of special interest to many of us who have served in the Irish Air Corps and subsequently in the wide world of global aviation.
As a humble airman, I was on duty as that Vampire Jet returned to Baldonnel, less its cockpit canopy and trainee pilot Ron McPartland.
I still recall the determined look in Commandant O’Connor’s eyes as he climbed out of the cockpit and boldly strode to his flight office. Few words were spoken.
Some years later, I had the pleasure of meeting him again at an Air Corps celebration and I tentatively reminded him of that unforgettable day and his courage in staying with and recovering his aircraft.
He just shrugged his shoulders and considered it all in the line of duty.
I also had the pleasure of working with Captain Ron many years later in Sri Lanka as we operated a B737 on lease by GPA to Air Lanka.
He was typically reticent about “his ejection from office” as that troubled aircraft spiralled ever closer towards the ground.
He preferred to share an evening sundowner or two and a few songs. So we often filled that tropical air with Irish folk songs to the strings of my guitar and singing of the crickets.
My wife, a Tyrone girl, reminds me of a special song that Ron once sang for her – The Mountains of Pomeroy (aka Bold Renardyne ).
Maybe he saw those beautiful rolling hills as he silently drifted back from impending terror to terra firma? – Yours, etc,
KEVIN BRADY,
Dunshaughlin,
Co Meath.
