Considering our extensive coastline of over 3,000km, we are vulnerable to those who wish to engage in illicit activities. Only through luck, poor seamanship, or bad weather have we managed to seize some of the largest quantities of drugs that have arrived on our shores. While there is significant inter-agency cooperation, including our partners in Europol and Interpol, the reality is that our location at the edges of the European mainland and our coastline make us an attractive country for major crime organizations from abroad who use us as a gateway to Europe.
More investment is needed in naval personnel and equipment, as well as a dedicated, well-funded drugs enforcement agency that would make Ireland an unattractive destination for criminal organizations attempting to import drugs. Only with a government willing to invest in a separate and dedicated drugs agency, adequately finance the Naval Service and retain its personnel, and increase aerial surveillance by our Air Corps, can we effectively secure our coastline.
Garda drugs units have been significantly reduced throughout the country due to changes implemented by Garda hierarchy and overseen by an ineffective government that seems hesitant or unwilling to invest in preventative measures. Indecisiveness will come at a cost. Are we willing to pay that price?
Christy Galligan, Letterkenny, Co Donegal
A fittingly saintly name for seized drugs ship MV Matthew
There is a certain irony in the fact that the MV Matthew cargo ship seized off Co Cork was likely named after St. Matthew, the patron saint of accountants, bankers, bookkeepers, security guards, and stockbrokers.
Aidan Roddy, Cabinteely, Dublin 18
McCallum and his mohair suits boosted our business with his far-fetched capers
The news of David McCallum’s passing brings me back to my days working for a men’s clothing chain. When The Man From U.N.C.L.E. TV series was at its height of popularity, we had a flood of male customers looking for mohair suits in an attempt to emulate McCallum and his co-star Robert Vaughn. I would like to thank both gentlemen for providing entertaining (albeit far-fetched) television viewing and boosting our suit sales.
Tom Gilsenan, Beaumont, Dublin 9
Untrustworthy flip-flopping gardaí won’t keep their word
The various Garda associations have not done themselves any favors by going back on the Westmanstown rosters agreement. They have shown that they will stick to their agreements, such as the temporary rosters agreed upon to cover the Covid pandemic, until they change their minds. These are the same people who voted no-confidence in Garda Commissioner Drew Harris, yet the commissioner upheld his end of the temporary roster deal. So why should he have any confidence in the Garda associations to honor their word in the future? And why would any young person want to join or remain in an organization whose members, regardless of agreements, seem to make up their minds as they go along?
Anthony O’Leary, Portmarnock, Co Dublin
Electing a Sinn Féin-led government would be a risky economic move
I would like to congratulate Mark Mohan on his letter (“Be careful what you wish for with a tax-and-spend Sinn Féin government,” Irish Independent, September 28). He is correct in pointing out that there is a significant possibility that our dissatisfied voters may elect the most left-leaning government in the next general election. It is a reality that a Sinn Féin-led government supported by left-wing parties is now a possibility for the first time in over 100 years since the foundation of our State.
Mohan is right in stating that for a country heavily reliant on tax revenues from multinational corporations, high earners, investors, and employees, this would be disastrous. The surge in support for this idea is coming from people who have never had to bear the brunt of an economic crash and who lack the understanding of economics that Mohan possesses.
I have only one solution, and that is for the government to go to the people after Budget 2024 and challenge the left on what their alternative budget would be.
Thomas Garvey, Claremorris, Co Mayo
Plenty of examples show that bottling up mental health issues doesn’t help
Comparing Mary Kenny’s comment (“Mental health issues? Maybe we should sometimes ‘bottle it up,’ say the experts,” Irish Independent, September 27) with Darragh Nolan’s report (“Grief needed a home – how sea swimming helped woman who lost her husband to suicide,” Irish Independent, September 22) is like comparing night and day. However, I hope both articles have sparked public discussion.
The stigma surrounding mental health still persists among people, just as it does in various aspects of life. June Curtin, the widow featured in the sea swimming article, is an example of not “bottling it up,” but more importantly, “letting it go.”
I witnessed an example of Ms. Curtin’s “swimming therapy” in Sligo in 1972. A recently married friend lost his wife in a car accident, which left him seriously injured. A month later, I encountered him on the street, and he was his old self. I asked him how he accomplished this, and he replied, “I went to the doctor seeking medication, and he told me, ‘You’re a champion swimmer, get out there in the sea.'”
From personal experience with anxiety, I disagree with both Kenny and the experts she mentions. As we have seen, both swimmers had the ability within themselves to heal, as the Bible says, “physician, heal thyself” – one through their inner strength and the other with a gentle push towards that inner strength.
I have been fortunate to have a friend who is a counselor and took it upon himself to guide me back to mindfulness, something that has been lost in certain traditional religious teachings. There is nothing new under the sun, and today, there are more readily available resources for healing mental illness than there were 50 years ago.
One of the most effective therapeutic approaches was observed by Ezra Pound during his time as a patient at St Elizabeths Psychiatric Hospital in Washington in 1945-46. He witnessed psychiatrists bring men back to reality who had returned from the battlefield or POW camps with PTSD. There is no one-size-fits-all approach when it comes to individuals. We are unique individuals created in the image of God, with each contributing to the whole and vice versa.
The most important thing for any person suffering from mental illness is to be honest and truthful with their psychologist, psychiatrist, or counselor, as this is the only way to reach and address the root cause.
Declan Foley, Melbourne, Australia
A mixed party with Mary Lou Martin as the leader of Sinn Féin could be on the horizon
It can be challenging to keep up with who the Taoiseach is these days. However, both Leo Martin and Micheál Varadkar have proven themselves as leaders of the country and their respective parties, Fine Fáil and Fianna Gael. One wonders if we may soon see Mary Lou Martin and Micheál McDonald partnering up to lead a Sinn Féin-Fianna Fáil government.
Rob Sadlier, Rathfarnham, Dublin 16
Trump may be ahead in the polls, but US voters should think twice
The race for the White House seems to be a done deal, with former President Donald Trump appearing to be well ahead in the polls. However, American voters should think twice before making the same mistake by electing him again. Trump is facing four indictments and has a questionable understanding of the word “honesty.” Voters should remember the old saying: “Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me.”
Leo Gormley, Dundalk, Co Louth
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