Letters to the editor: ‘Settler’ communities in Israel are going to be a problem down the line

The United States has contributed almost $50bn (€47bn) towards its economic, military and defence systems. Add to this figure the amount Israel itself paid for munitions. Add further the cost of munitions of its enemies. A haphazard guess would be not far off $100bn.

The number of human beings slaughtered and injured is innumerable. These wars for which Israel claims “casus belli” (an event that justifies a war) arise from apocryphal tales written by men and women thousands of years ago.

Prime minister Benjamin ­Netanyahu and his fellow hawks are blind to the dangers of “the settler” communities migrating to Israel who behave with impunity towards Palestinians.

Future attempts to rein them in will undoubtedly be met with violence.

Declan Foley, Melbourne, Australia

People of Gaza have been failed by so-called international community

Simon Harris, following his meetings in Brussels last week, observed that there is a “very clear view emerging” among EU states that there must be “an immediate cessation of violence” in Gaza.

Such a view is only “emerging”?

Thankfully, Ireland remains clear in its call for a permanent ceasefire, but how profoundly depressing that, after six months of horror in Gaza, the pressing need for an end to this appalling war is still being debated with little effect within the EU. In fact, Germany continues to be one of Israel’s main arms suppliers.

The “international community” has comprehensively failed the people of Gaza.

Fintan Lane, Lucan, Co Dublin

Let’s prosecute those who didn’t pay TV licence fee or refund those of us who did

The Taoiseach has made it known he wishes to have the issue of the funding of public broadcasting completed by the end of the summer.

This is to be welcomed. There are, however, many outstanding issues to be resolved, among them the very significant number of people who have not paid their TV licence fees in 2023 and 2024, let alone those who have been getting away with non-payment for decades.

This leaves the Government with a choice: chase and prosecute all the non-payers in 2023 and 2024 or return the fees paid by all those people who paid up.

As one of the latter, the idea of an amnesty to non-payers is sickening.

Odran Reid, Glasnevin, Dublin 11

It’s shocking to hear some fans booing Ronan O’Gara – one of our greatest ever

I congratulate Leinster on their great win over La Rochelle last Saturday, but the booing of one of Ireland’s greatest players, Ronan O’Gara – now a world leader in coaching – can only be described as shocking and should not be tolerated in rugby.

Paul Lonergan, Clonmel, Co Tipperary

Patent referendum will fall like the others unless the wording is correct

The referendum on the EU Unified Patents Court, making it easier for individuals, inventors, creators and businesses to protect their ideas, copyrights and brands across the EU (‘Referendum in doubt as Coalition fears another heavy defeat’, Irish Independent, April 12), is unlikely to go ahead on June 6.

This represents a U-turn by our new Taoiseach, Fine Gael, Fianna Fáil and the Green Party.

If the referendum was passed, there would be need for only one patent for each product, brand or idea instead of 27, covering the EU, with less red tape, lower costs and instead of multiple national courts only one court for patent rights.

The referendums on family and care were defeated because the wording was unacceptable to an astute electorate. Political parties and others influenced outcomes and the wording was influenced by a minority with economic concerns.

It is not for others or political parties “to get out there and fight for it” to influence the outcomes of referendums.

It behoves the Government to decide on the wording for the purpose of a referendum.

It needs to produce the wording for the Unified Patents Court, allow the Independent Electoral Commission to carry out its work and for political parties and others to allow the electorate, as is their right without influence or interference, to decide.

Hugh McDermott, Dromahair, Co Leitrim

Michael McGrath, just like Harris before him, is a party leader-in-waiting

Fionnán Sheahan believes Michael McGrath is the standby leader in Fianna Fáil (‘McGrath, Fianna Fáil’s standby leader, won’t get caught out like FG’s Donohoe’, Irish Independent, April 15).

I, too, regard him as the leader-in-waiting. He was tipped for the plum job in Europe, but he seems to be eyeing up the leader’s role.

He has done right by taking a leaf out of Simon Harris’s book and highlighted his humble background. This will play well with the party faithful.

I told a young Harris once upon a time at an ard fheis that he was a young leader in waiting.

It is always important to have the support of the front bench like Harris. It is also important to try to bring everybody on board.

Thomas Garvey, Claremorris, Co Mayo

It’s all well saying we will build 250,000 houses, but who’s going to own them?

Perhaps the “new normal” should be to continue to change the taoiseach every 1.6 years as we have been doing.

Four years into the five-year term, the Coalition seems to realise we have a housing crisis. New Taoiseach Simon Harris promises 250,000 houses – but it will take time.

All of which begs the question: “What were the other two taoisigh doing on their watches?”

Mr Martin devoted much of it to bashing Sinn Féin, and as for Leo…? Great. Let’s have 250,000 houses but who is going to get them?

Will it be big companies who want to buy estates for their workers, cuckoo funds or perhaps American, Canadian or Australian pension funds?

Or will Mr Harris end this Wild West of concrete?

Will the game be tilted or will every person like my generation back in the day, who saved a hard-earned deposit, get a fair chance to buy a home?

John Cuffe, Co Meath