Patience is a virtue that is sadly leaving our shores

The fact that the Passport Office received 12,000 letters from TDs on behalf of constituents who want to fly off to other parts of the world undoubtedly added to the backlog, including the failure by thousands of applicants to fill up their passport forms correctly. Those who complained to their TDs for whatever reason think that by doing so they will be one step ahead of their neighbours and a signed letter from a TD will speed the process up.

It seems as a population we have run out of patience and our demands on staff working within the public and civil service is ever increasing to the detriment of the services.

Maybe our TDs would be better off writing to those constituents and explain to them their expectations exceed what can be delivered in a timely fashion, but that doesn’t win votes.

Christy Galligan

Letterkenny, Co Donegal

Johnson’s belligerence means his days are now numbered

Columnist Tom Peck is right on the money when he maintains Boris Johnson lives in a tiny, make-believe world where everything is just as he says, and nothing can go wrong (‘Captain Boris will go down with his ship of make-believe as he carries on living in Boris Johnson World’, independent.ie, June 8). He calls this Brexit, we call it cloud cuckoo land. Very shortly he will be unemployed, politically.

David Ryan

Co Meath

How many must die before we finally tackle drug issue?

The latest report from the Health Research Board makes for very troubling reading, (‘Treatment for cocaine use by young Irish people up 171pc in a decade’, independent.ie, June 8). It seems clear that we are deep in the throes of a drug-use epidemic in this country, especially, but not exclusively, among young women and the younger cohort of the population in general.

As far back as 2016 it was widely reported that an average of two people a day lost their lives due to drug misuse, so what has been done to address this problem in the interim? It would appear not much at all.

While it is commendable of the media to continually highlight these worrying trends, statistics mean little to grieving families and the young lives that have been tragically and needlessly cut short by the scourge of illicit drugs and those who push them. There is a serious drug problem in this country that needs to be tackled by all sections of society with urgency, consistency and determination. How many deaths will it take for us as a country to say enough is enough?

Stephen O’Hara

Carrowmore, Sligo

Global scholarships would honour those we have lost

Alison Gilliland, Lord Mayor of Dublin (‘Well merited recognition for Dr Lynn and women like her’, Irish Independent, Letters, June 9) points out to readers that “the freedom of the city can only be awarded to living people”.

What better way to honour those who have gone to their eternal reward than by setting up scholarships not alone in Ireland, but for Irish people who may need to study abroad?

Education is the best way to honour those who devoted their lives to their nation.

Declan Foley

Melbourne, Australia

Leahy deserves recognition for her tireless devotion

When official Ireland refers to women who have made real contributions to Dublin life, the heroic Alice Leahy is rarely mentioned.

Alice Leahy has worked tirelessly with the homeless since the early 1970s. She has also contributed to many reports and official bodies dealing with everything from crime to mental illness. Let’s honour this great woman now. Perhaps by building something practical like public wash-rooms for the homeless that are safe and monitored?

Karl Martin

Bayside, Dublin 13

Novel way to address Russia over the heroes of Ukraine

I would like to suggest the Government should bestow on Ukraine the honour of renaming an Irish street in tribute to the heroes of Ukraine in defence of their country.

I propose O’Connell Street in Dublin should be renamed as Ukraine Heroes Street. In this day and age the name of O’Connell means little to this generation of Irish people.

It would send a message to the Russians that the Irish people are disgusted by their bombardment of an honourable nation. I should like to hear the views of your readers on this suggestion.

Brian Smith

Apokoronou, Crete, Greece