Licence points and fines will curb Covid refuseniks

I DO NOT see the point of gardaí handing out fines at airports if they cannot stop the people from travelling. I agree with the fines but when they stop a vehicle on the road I think they should be able to turn them back.

Or perhaps when gardaí stop the vehicles, the drivers should get points on their licence. Some people don’t mind paying a fine, but if you tell them that they will get points on their licence they won’t be too happy.

Tom Kennedy, Co. Waterford.

Go! Like Hogan did

IT might now be an example of good leadership if Ursula von der Leyen resigned her post as president of the European Commission.

It’s inconceivable to imagine how the EC, under her direction, permitted a dispute with a wellknown pharmaceutical company to happen. It’s incredulous that the Commission gave their imprimatur to a deal with this company that signed mutually incompatible contracts with the UK and the EU.

Now the fiasco is creating real political problems and it is galling to learn that von der Leyen et al were then ready to draw up a vaccine border on this island. They also further provoked Euroscepticism across the Irish Sea as well as within EU member states.

It wasn’t such a long time ago when commission president von der Leyen looked for Phil Hogan’s resignation based on his poor political judgement. She must now judge herself by the same standards.

John O’Brien, Stoneyford, Co. Kilkenny

Martin visit must US

ON the basis that the annual St Patrick’s Day invitation to the White House for An Taoiseach will issue this year, I deem it essential that Micheál Martin meets with President Biden.

In the first instance, such an invitation would indicate a significant consideration on behalf of the president, he being alert to pandemic precautions.

The fact that the president is already well disposed towards Ireland does not counter the benefits that may accrue from a face-to-face meeting of the two leaders and exceptionally so at this very early stage of the new US presidency, when many aspects of policy are in the development stage,

A personal meeting with Mr Biden affords discussion on many possible issues that could have a major influence, for the good of this country, on matters pertaining to the economic and political relationship realities of life after Covid and in the continuity of Brexit.

This is essential work, requiring essential travel and vaccination if necessary.

Michael Gannon, Co. Kilkenny.

Double standards

JUST how foolish does this Government think the people of Ireland are? We are limited to a 5k travel radius, while Simon Coveney can travel to Turkey, Teheran, and Moscow. The lockdown is due to end on March 5… just in time for Micheál Martin to fly off to the White House with a bowl of shamrock. There is either a pandemic or not, the Government cannot adjust the goalposts to suit itself.

Mike Pitt, Co. Limerick.

RTÉ cut not so deep

NOBODY seems to be willing to consider reducing the broadcasters’ high salaries/wages in RTÉ down to a just and respectful level of earnings.

It was reported this week: ‘RTÉ staff face pay cut of up to 5% in survival proposal.’ A decrease of 5% to 15% would still not justify those high RTÉ broadcaster wages either.

A Government inquiry should be convened to rescind those earnings to be no more than €120,000 annually. Even at that they are overpaid… not bad for a week’s work?

Edward Mahon, Clonskeagh, D14.

Síochána shuffle

THIS week’s Garda dance video or ‘Síochána Shuffle’ was very good and showed great camaraderie. It demonstrates how doing the unexpected gives an emotional lift and spreads some cheer as we wait around the world to be vaccinated against Covid-19.

Mary Sullivan, Cork city.

HSE must apologise

CRITICISM of HSE management took a back seat since the advent of Covid-19. Yet this did not prevent a return to type when chief medical officer Tony Holohan failed to apologise on behalf of the HSE for the cervical cancer smear disaster.

Repeating the word ‘regret’, in place of any version of ‘we’re sorry’, simply is not good enough. The HSE continues to dictate to a nation, while distancing itself from responsibility for its own mistakes, to the point of stressing that contracting Covid-19 is down to ourselves. The HSE cannot see beyond this simple current hook on which to hang everything.

Robert Sullivan, Bantry, Co. Cork.