Tuesday 21 May 2013
YOUR letters against continuing membership of the EU have three characteristics in common: Fear – assumption that leaving will do us harm; Nonsense – the EU 'kept the peace' (Nato did that); and Abuse of Opponents – they are 'xenophobes'. Such 'arguments' are no substitute for a democratic vote.
BRIAN O'Driscoll's decision to sign on for another year for Ireland is a testimony to this unique sporting hero.
IT would appear that, for the higher echelons in the Catholic Church, like Cardinal Keith O'Brien, the wages of sin have been changed to spending a vacation somewhere hot, but not too hot.
AS Amazon and other large multinationals continue to push the tax rulebook to the limit, are they not aware of the impact their actions could have on small businesses?
BRENDAN O'Brien writes, "May God bless Professor Hawking for supporting the academic boycott of Israel" (Write Back, May 15).
SOME letters have appeared in your paper regarding a new train station for Derry/Londonderry. But they are not accurate.
THE PSNI is to buy nine drones for the huge security operation at the G8 summit in Fermanagh in June and, afterwards, to combat terrorism and crime.
I AM travelling alone by car to France on July 17. I priced the P&O Larne-Cairnryan route (£321 return), then I priced P&O's Dover-Calais route (£84 return).
I do not have a crystal ball to claim the foreign trips by Peter Robinson and Martin McGuinness are a waste of taxpayers' money. Hopefully, they will encourage foreign investment here. I definitely don't need a crystal ball to see the millions of pounds of taxpayers' money spent each year on sectarian marches, parading and protests. That is money we badly need down the drain.
I WRITE out of concern for our mother and for all elderly and vulnerable residents of trust residential homes; also, very importantly, for the morale of the dedicated and experienced staff.
I can pay a premium for Fairtrade goods, giving workers a degree of improved welfare. But when I buy locally grown produce, it's deemed that I'll accept produce picked by migrant workers on below living wage. Is it time for Fairtrade logos on local produce?
A book called Dead Funny by Allen Foster features humourous epitaphs like this from Belfast:
IT would appear that the Alliance Party's Stewart Dickson MLA is unsure about the direction in which, he or his party, really wants to travel.
IN condemning Professor Stephen Hawking's support of an academic boycott of Israel, your correspondent (Write Back, May 16) provided a number of what he/she believes are proofs that apartheid does not exist there. He/she did not, however, provide information on laws which prove apartheid in Israel.
PAULA Bradshaw (Write Back, May 16) exhibits all of the key traits of Alliance representatives when talking about the creation of a shared society.
ALEX Kane (Comment, May 14) notes that there is a growing disconnect between mainstream political parties and the electorate.
NORTHERN IRELAND DEAF BOWLING: Larne (April 20) £368; Bangor (April 27) £189.00. P CANNING
THE Home Secretary, Theresa May, is valuing a police officer's life more than others if she forces criminals to serve life without parole for killing an officer (News, May 16).
YOUR columnist Una Brankin (Life, May 13) was right to draw attention to the unanswered questions about Amanda Knox that have led to her retrial.
IDENTIFYING that certain sections of Zionism are questionable, perhaps even racist, is not an attempt to de-legitimise Israel (Write Back, May 16).
Religious observers are asking: "Is Pope Francis an exorcist?" after an incident in St Peter's Square.
The Queen said she was "deeply saddened" by the loss of life and devastation caused by the tornado in Oklahoma and sent her "deepest sympathies" to all those whose lives have been affected.
Tom McGonigle, a Criminal Justice Inspector, is to be the new Northern Ireland Prisoner Ombudsman.
Sunderland winger Adam Johnson is in favour of manager Paolo Di Canio's hardline approach to the job if it brings about an improvement in results.
Napoli president Aurelio De Laurentiis has played down suggestions he wants Rafael Benitez to be the club's new head coach and claimed the delegation that visited England on Monday was hoping to secure an exchange deal with Manchester City for Edinson Cavani.
Manchester United earned a record £60.8million in Premier League TV money after winning the title - but even the club that finishes bottom next season will exceed that income due to the top flight's huge new broadcasting deals.
George Michael fell from his vehicle on to the carriageway of the M1 motorway, an eyewitness has claimed.
James Caan says he's not impressed by today's films.
Comedy writer Eddie Braben, the third man behind the success of Morecambe and Wise, has died at the age of 82, his manager said.
Hi °C | Lo °C