Letters: RTÉ barter account saga goes on and it’s hard to figure out what is correct

The ongoing saga about how we pay, how much we pay and who collects the TV licence goes on.

Apparently, some of this €654,000 dates back to 2018 and 2019. Does that mean the published accounts from 2018 to date were books of fiction?

Yet another compelling reason why Dee Forbes should appear before an Oireachtas committee.

It would not surprise me at this stage if the picture coming from such an exercise would be even worse than it is now.

Until that is done, the review of the TV licence should be put to the side, as this taxpayer is in no humour to entertain such a PR exercise by the Government in the run-up to a general election.

Peter Carroll, Castleknock, Dublin 15

Taoiseach must do more to keep hard-working young people from emigrating

I recently returned from a holiday in Australia. I was visiting my daughter, who is living and working in Melbourne.

It was lovely to catch up with my daughter, her cousins and friends from Ireland. I met with many young Irish diaspora. I was so proud of them. They have a wonderful work ethic.

You will find young Irish adults in all walks of life: from accountancy to agriculture, doctors to drivers, from merchandisers to midwives, teachers to technology.

They are confident, professional, responsible and conscientious members of society. They are contributing significantly to the Australian economy.

I can understand the attraction of the Australian lifestyle. The weather, the job opportunities, the affordable rents, the reasonable car insurance and the work-life balance.

My concern is: will they come home? Can this country afford to lose a generation of well-educated, intelligent and hard-working young adults?

I don’t believe we can. I understand Simon Harris has no control over the Irish weather, but I think immediate action is necessary to counteract the issues facing young people.

Áine Crowe, Ardfert, Co Kerry

Leinster House will be empty for summer, why not house migrants there?

It is both embarrassing and disgusting to see “tent cities” in our capital, making it look like an impoverished shanty town.

If we can’t house our own, can we be reasonably expected to accommodate thousands of unwelcome or illegal migrants as well as the refugees from war-torn Ukraine?

As our political overlords desperately seek an answer to this problem, one doesn’t see any of them offering a house or even a bed to these unfortunate people – but perhaps room could be found during the extra-long summer recess in Leinster House.

It’s a good address, within walking distance of most amenities, plus there’s an in-house gym, bar and dining facilities.

For those that really want to camp out, there are plenty of good sites near Áras an Uachtaráin.

Will these sites be considered? Not on your nelly.

David Ryan, Co Meath

Irish people may just send more turkeys to Europe in next month’s elections

John Downing warns people about getting ready to be “bribed with your own money” as competition for votes heats up (Irish Independent, May 7).

There is no doubt the temperature has gone up out there in the last week as the time is getting closer.

Mr Downing wrote of his first election, when he got to vote in 1977. It was the last time a political party in Ireland won an overall majority, which is something I do not think will be ever achieved again thanks to proportional representation.

I do not think that election was won totally through bribery.

A year before that, the late Séamus Brennan, then the general secretary of Fianna Fáil, had gone to the US and he returned with some very useful campaign tips.

Hall’s Pictorial Weekly, an oil crisis and a tired leader in government were some of the other factors that contributed to the historic victory.

However, history is the past and last month marked the 50th anniversary of Abba winning the Eurovision Song Contest with the song Waterloo.

I have been out knocking on doors during this campaign and I have a fear that Ireland could send more turkeys to Europe.

There are a lot of angry people out there and they could vent their anger by sending out a protest vote – it has happened before.

John Downing is right when he says there will not be a general election in autumn. It will most likely be held next spring, but right now it’s the rehearsal next month I am worried about.

Thomas Garvey, Claremorris, Co Mayo

Recognising Palestinian state would be a positive step towards lasting peace

Given the catastrophe we now see in Gaza, I think the Irish government’s initiative to recognise Palestine as a state is a wise move.

The people of Palestine surely deserve a helping hand in rebuilding their destroyed houses, healthcare and other infrastructural facilities.

Hopefully, in time, they will be able to look forward to foreign investment to assist in developing their country, something they certainly will not expect from apartheid Israel, whose systematic oppression of Palestinians over the years has led to the tragic events we witness daily on our screens and in our newspapers.

Anthony McGeough’s assertion that such action would be a reward for Hamas (‘Recognition of Palestine would reward Hamas for its brutality on October 7’, Letters, May 7) is incorrect.

I would suggest that with the right international management, as we have seen in other countries rebuilt after World War II, a right-minded and peaceful Palestine can be reconstituted without endangering any of its law-abiding neighbours.

David Murphy, Clonskeagh, Dublin 14

Sunny spell of weather a great opportunity to soft serve up some cool puns

Noel Kelly’s letter (‘Bank holiday sunshine was a real treat for those who enjoy their sundaes’, Letters, May 7), ends with his pun on some ladies having ice cream: “I wonder were they awayfer the long weekend?”

I-scream at such puns.

Leo Gormley, Dundalk, Co Louth