THE national outcry over the Israeli bombing of innocent children and civilians in Lebanon must be matched with equal concern at the use of Irish-manufactured weapons support systems in the current military conflict.

As a long time republican and civil rights campaigner I am calling on the 26-County administration to ban the export of computer systems by Irish firms that assist American arms companies.

It is no secret that America is supplying the Israelis with high-tech weapons and these systems operate on computergenerated guidance systems manufactured in Ireland.

It is now time for this Fianna Fail/Progressive Democrats coalition to back up their words of condemnation with firm action against the Irish weapons industry.

It is no use crying crocodile tears over the awful deaths of young children in Lebanon if Irish computer expertise is being used by American weapons companies to cause these fatalities.

It is time that an audit was conducted of the Irish-based but American-owned computer companies engaged in this war effort.

Irish politicians highlight the neutrality of the state when it suits them but on this occasion mere words are not enough.

There must be determined action to ensure that no Irishmanufactured weapons guidance systems are exported to America for use by the arms industry.

Des Long, 52 Shannon Banks, Corbally, Limerick.

Speedboats a danger on Shannon From Keith Nolan

PREVIOUSLY I have written about the dangers to young rowers by powerful cruisers speeding near Carrick-onShannon. Now there has been a collision with serious injury between a jet-ski and a speedboat on the stretch of river between Hartley bridge and Leitrim Village.

Will it take deaths, like all things in this country, to bring about coherent legislation and adequate safeguards?

The first thing required is a total ban on jet-skis and speedboats from narrow and congested parts of our inland waterways and a penalty system for speeding cruisers.

Keith Nolan, Caldra House, Caldragh, Carrick-on-Shannon, Co Leitrim.

Greening the CAP From Ted Mooney

THE EU spends billions subsidising farmers to grow things we don't want. We then offload them on world markets at dumping prices, which drive third world farmers to bankruptcy. Meanwhile, we bankrupt ourselves paying exorbitant prices for Arab oil while the farmers who claim poverty pay exorbitant prices for more land.

We should tell farmers that enough is enough. Henceforth, the EU should subsidise only bio-diesel crops, to hell with beef and butter mountains, wine and milk lakes, and the like. At no nett cost to its citizens, the EU would do more for the poor farmers of the Third World than GATT, the G8, or even Bono could ever attempt. And reduce both our greenhouse gases and our dependency on imported oil in the bargain!

Ted Mooney Tavira Garden 15-1A 8800-221

Tavira Portugal Sitting on fence leaves field to criminals From Tom Carew

THERE is a fundamental principle and choice in life for all of us, in any land. You are either with the Drug Gang, or with the Drug Squad. To sit on the fence is to leave the field to the criminals.

And when our armed detectives are forced to confront gangsters holding innocent people hostage, and fire on the criminal target, but a hostage is injured or killed, either by garda or gang shots, then the moral and legal responsibility lies wholly on the criminal. Our gardai do not become murderers in that context, but remain our armed defenders against organised murderers. Equally, when the Israelis fire on gangs holding kidnapped Israeli soldiers and Lebanese civilians hostage, then the moral and legal responsibility lies exclusively on those gangs. That clear responsibility cannot shift depending merely on the number of hostages hit in the process. Or on whether single aimed shots or heavier weapons have to be used against criminals. Or on whether the defenders of democracy and freedom are wearing green military or blue police uniforms. Or on the location on the globe of the incident.

The innocent civilian hostages can suffer due to [a] human error, [b] equipment faults, [c] faulty information, [d] the criminal moving, [e] lack of skills or training among security forces, [f ] weather or visibility conditions, or [g] deflected, exit or ricochet shots.

In no such case can terms like 'atrocity' accurately describe the reality. That means 'extremely wicked', and both the intentions of the security forces to overcome the enemy, and their general mandate to carry arms for our defence, mean that such emotive language is both irresponsible, and an incitement which can only aid the common enemy. A terrible tragedy does not become an 'atrocity' when it involves many victims.

Those truths are as valid in a north County Dublin armed post office robbery as in south Lebanon. Morality is not created after the event by counting heads, but is determined in advance, by reflecting on relevant moral principles and intentions, such as I have indicated. The Drug Gangs cannot be equated with our Drug Squad, nor Hezbollah kidnappers with the Israeli Defence Forces mandated to eliminate those gangs and rescue the kidnap victims.

Tom Carew, Ranelagh, Dublin 6.

Rise in fuel costs hits most vulnerable From Michael Schindler

THE current situation of rising fuel costs is unacceptable, unfair and completely unbalanced. The increase for the fuel allowance in budget 2006 by 5 does not meet at all the rise in costs over the past 12 months in oil and gas prices.

Price hikes of as much as 20%-30%, and more to follow, are no match for any current Social Welfare/HSE payment, including benefits and supplements.

These payments are sometimes years out of date and have not been reviewed.

The fact is that the special heating need supplement for the elderly and people with disabilities (weekly 12.70) is not widely published, known or advertised from the service providers. A one-page green form (SWA 16) requested from the SW/HSE, assessed and signed by your doctor is required for the entitlement.

Most elderly people and people with disabilities could benefit from this supplement.

Another fact is that SW/HSE are well understaffed, especially in rural areas. In some cases people have to wait up to four months just to get a reply or a bit of relief on the issue of fuel debt/costs from the previous winter.

The increase in ESB costs of 20%-30%, if not more, is also a fact and is not enough to compensate the yearly 1,800 free units and social tariffs in a fair balance. Perhaps an increase in units over the winter period could be a solution. Ultimately the government has the responsibility and to promise an increase in the 2007 budget is just not good enough.

Michael Schindler, Basin Court, Tralee, Co Kerry.