Galway Advertiser 2003/2003_07_03/GA_03072003_E1_026.pdf 

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Letters

FG candidate lashed over teen sex revelations
Dear Editor, I am writing in relation to Fidelma Healy Eames' scaremongering. I find it amazing the lengths that this woman is willing to stretch to in order to get her name in the paper. I know that the survey was carried out in a classroom situation in order to research what activities would be suitable for the youth of Oranmore. Nobody was aware that the findings of this survey would be published. 1 spoke to several outraged teenagers in relation to this horrific headline and I was told that most people answering the survey mockingly answered yes to questions such as 'are you sexually active? Get realistic about the whole thing. 99.9 per cent of 13 year olds in Oranmore are not sexually active. Neither are their 16 and 17 year old siblings. I can't believe that this woman is carelessly revealing these incor rect " f a c t s " and labelling the youth of Oranmore. These are just a few logical questions to ask yourself, Mrs Eames before you continue any further on your power trip. Q. In a classroom situation are students going to write the truth about their sexual habits in front of their friends? A. Of course not they're going to act cool and pretend that they are sexually active. It's referred to as peer pressure. Q. If these young teenagers are having sex why are there almost no teenage moth ers in the locality? A. Because your "facts'" are incorrect. Mrs H e a l y - E a m e s , the teenagers of Oranmore are distraught at your nonsense and fortunately for you we don't have a vote in the elections but our annoyed parents do. Yours A perplexed youth (Name and address with the editor)

Farce of tree vote shows city council were right over Eyre Square
Dear Editor, In last week's Galway Advertiser. I read Kernan Andrews' article headlined "City says yes to keeping square's trees -- but 95 per cent stay away." Later in the report, he wrote that the referendum took place in eight polling stations throughout Galway city and was operated by a large team of volunteers. In view of the large number. I think il is fair to suggest that nobody at all voted except those volunteers. It is therefore surprising that the result was only 98.35 per cent in favour of Yes. Stalin and other dictators were elected or re-eleeted with 100 per cent support from their electorate. I was one of the 95 per cent who stayed away as I would not dignify the refer endum by my presence. I hope Niall 0 Brolchain and his colleagues understand the message they were given by the electorate. The city manager and the city council have behaved in a very dignified manner in their response to the Green party's attempt to politicise the matter. Professional peo ple like the city manager are not interested in currying popularity, but only in doing what is hest for the city, especially in the long term. I and I assume the remain der of the 95 per cent who ignored the "alliance" are prepared to accept his judge ment and look forward to an increase of 19 per cent more green space, and many extra and healthy trees. While Mr O Brolehaoin will be disheartened by the less than five per cent yes vote, there is one consolation he might be included for in the Guinness Book of Records -- securing the world record for the lowest referendum turnout in histo ryYours, Not so green Galway (Name and address with editor)

Whose problem is it?
Dear Editor, Across the road from my home in the city is a large building of apartments that was halted by Galway City Council during con struction due to planning violations. The developer has applied for planning retention and this application is being processed. I was recently advised that this dormant building is unsafe, so I contacted Galway City Council to express my concern. The council said it was not their problem. They contacted the architect. He said it was not his problem. He contacted the develop er. When the developer failed to act, pre sumably deciding it was someone else's problem, I contacted the Health and Safety Authority. They said it was not their prob lem, but was Galway City Council's. When I put it to them that the council had said it was the developer's problem. Health and Safety said they were not sure whose problem it was, just that it wasn't theirs. They then told me that no-one is responsible for public safety in this country. If the unsupported apex, built of concrete b l o c k s , yields under the pressure of a stormy, Galway night, and falls 40 feet to the pavement below, it may indeed be some one's problem, especially if that someone is an unlucky passer-by. Yours sincerely, Christian O'Reilly New Road, Galway

Honorary d e g r e e s or pure marketing?
Dear Editor, As a graduate of NUI, Galway, who worked damn hard to get my qualifica tions many years ago, I muist admit to being a little bit bemused by the frequen cy with which the college bestows honorary doctor ates upon "world leaders." One side of me says that it is great that we are link ing our fantastic education al institution with some of the world's great leaders while the cynic in me feels that it might have a bit to do with raising our profile in the US whence many dollars can come. Of course, the cynic in me only comes out at times like when I heard that Nelson Mandela attended a private function in the Radisson not long after his "graduation" and for which the admission fee was in the realm of thousands of euro per table. I did not know that Mandela did private gigs and it took a bit of the gloss off the occasion for me and some colleagues. Hopefully the money raised went to some charity that would find favour with Mandela and not into the corporate bucket. I am aware of the need for institutions such as NUI, Galway to be funded on a massive scale, but I hope that its great name and tradition will not be hawked around to the high est corporate bidder under the guise of honorary doc torates. Yours, Graduate of the 1970s not honorary (Name and address with

Highlight sport and not sex, say angry Maree parents
Dear Editor. survey. It was with concern that 1 read the head (1) If names had to be used, would lines regarding the FG candidates shock as answers be the same? teen sex survey findings on your paper of (2) From peer pressure, would students June 19. Where is our faith in young peo give bravado replies anyway? ple? I feel that choosing to look at one ques (3) Should schools permit such a survey tion in the questionnaire regarding the age with such negative publicity? of young people's firsts sexual experience is (4) If true, is any responsibility forthcom undermining their parents and children ing, to inform parents if the survey was alike. anonymous? 1 do believe that children when asked to The parish of Oranmore/Maree is not any answer a question like this will of course worse than any other place. The majority of exaggerate because of peer pressure which parents would feel that they are giving a puts more pressure on young people to feel good sense of direction and we are very that there is something wrong with them if supportive of one another. they have not. These sensational headlines will sell sur This is the message that young people are veys, magazines, papers and the use of getting from television and other forms of shock tactics will promote publicity and the media. politics. Would any cutbacks in the school itself Yes, I do believe that it is important for get front page coverage and radio promi parents to know where their children are, nence but we do have to give some trust to our We as responsible parents, promote good children. This is what helps them grow into values for our children and wish to highlight well adjusted adults. We need to be promot the advantages of sport, music, and all the ing the positive aspects of teenagers' lives, voluntary work done by managers and train their abilities in sports, drama, music, and ers in the parish of Maree/Oranmore. their enthusiasm. Yours, They have a lot to offer the world and we need to be encouraging and promoting that. Two disgruntled Maree parents (Names and addresses with editor) We need to question the authenticity of the

Green candidate refuses to be bullied out of politics
Dear Editor, I must reply to an article in a recent edition of your paper entitled "Mayor lash es Green Candidate". The Green candidate in question was of course myself. The Advertiser correctly report ed that the outgoing Mayor, Mr Val Hanley found the tone of an article I had writ ten offensive to councillors and raised the issue at a recent council meeting. However, you did not report what it was that he found offensive. My article was primarily about the appalling state of the litter on our city streets and I expressed the view that the ultimate responsi bility for this lay with our elected councillors. I went on to say that many of our current batch of councillors (but not all) are more inter ested in attending functions and pressing the flesh than dealing with serious issues of policy. Interestingly the very councillors I was refer ring to were the ones most vocal in attacking my arti cle. In theory the council meeting broke up as the result of a row that ensued over my article but in fact it would have broken up any way because some of the councillors had a function to attend, perhaps proving the very point I was mak ing. Your piece also quoted Mr Hanley as stating, "I suppose he'll be withdraw ing from the race in 2004" referring to my supposedly negative view of local authorities. I would like to put it on record that I have no intention whatsoever of withdrawing my candidacy from the local elections in 2004. I believe in local govern ment reform and allowing local people to have a real say in what goes on around them. I have every intention of getting involved in the Begg Commission on voter participation. I have always made it clear that my moti vation in getting involved in politics is to pursue policy issues from a community point of view. I do not believe that my objections to the Ballymagash/parish pump style of local government that currently exists in Galway city are best served by allowing Mr Hanley and his colleagues in the FF/PD party to have a free ride in the next local elections. Yours, Niall 6 Brolchain, 83 Ros Ard. Cappagh Road, Galway.

Green Guide hopes to inform
Dear Editor, I am writing in response to Ms Margaret Tighe Jordan's letter (Advertiser, 12-06-03) that highlighted the problem of dog litter in Galway city. However I feel it is important to reiterate that the Green Guide for Galway hopes to inform and educate the general popula tion about lifestyle changes that will help everyone to lead a more sustainable and environmentally friendly lifestyle. The Green Guide has not been established to enforce legislation and although we understand the distress that this lady is encountering over the issue of dog litter it is somewhat out of our brief. The Green Guide propos es that through making minor changes in our lives we not only benefit our local community and envi ronment, but we help to combat problems on a glob al scale; furthermore we help to improve our own health and save ourselves money! Now how can that be a waste of time? One section of the Green Guide hopes to provide information in the format of a directory that will include individuals, business, and organisations who supply environmentally friendly/ecologically aware produce or services Inclusion in the Green Guide is free and we hope to circulate it to as many members of the general public as possible in the autumn, ^ f there are any organisa tions which would like the opportunity for, free, inclu sion in the Green Guide then please contact us on email at greenguide@stu dent.nuigalway.ie or snail mail at Green Guide, c/o Ecology Society. Societie Office. NUI, Galway. Yours, Siobhan McDermott, NUI, Galway Alt.com is on page 34

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