From Darren Mac an Phriora

I REMEMBER once getting a lift from a politician after a debate in Dublin city centre some years ago. While in his car we spoke about a recent Prime Time debate on alcohol abuse. He said; "I do think that we (ie, society) are going to have awful problems with mental health in the future."

That was five years ago.

Every year our society's problems with alcohol abuse are getting worse and our doctors and nurses are continually at the coal-face dealing with them. In such a climate, mistakes happen.

People get misinterpreted and misdiagnosed. I am not antiimmigration, but when you add to the mix that a lot of foreign doctors don't speak great English you are dealing with an archaic system.

If I ever have the money I am going to consider going private . . . although I have been told that the standard of care is surprisingly better in public hospitals.

Mary Harney needs to radically reform our public health system and bring in a ban on alcohol advertising.

Darren Mac an Phriora, Corran Chaislean Cnucha, Caislean Cnucha, Co Bhaile Atha Cliath.

A sad week for integration in Ireland

From Brendan Butler

YOUR editorial 'A sad week for so-called integration in this country' (19 August) makes for sad reading. The Minister for Justice's decision to deport Olivia and Great Agbonlahor back to Nigeria and not allow humanitarianism to overcome legalism is unacceptable in our affluent society. The fear of precedent has paralysed his humanity.

The appointment of Conor Lenihan, the Minister for Justice's brother, as Minister with Responsibility for Integration promised a more visionary approach to immigration and integration, but he too has failed. He has allowed the department of justice and its rigid and mean approach to 10% of our population to become his yardstick in relation to the refusal by both himself and the Garda Commisioner to allow a member of the Irish Sikh community to wear a turban in the Garda Reserve Force . . . a practice acceptable in many police forces around the world.

For Sikhs, hair is one of the five symbols of their religion and a sign of their love of God and respect for all God's gifts to humanity. How can such a beautiful concept and positive value be a threat to the Garda Reserve Force? In reality the wearing of a turban by a member of the Garda Reserve Force would be a visible sign of our government's acceptance of multiculturalism and would have a very powerful educational value for our society.

If this government maintains its intolerant rigidity to the acceptance of the inherent values in other cultures, religions and ethnic communities, it is strenghtening the racism that is already prevalent in our society and storing up societal conflict for the future.

Brendan Butler, 45 The Moorings, Malahide, Co Dublin.

From Leigh Kelly

I AM writing this with my blood boiling. I have just read your editorial comment (19 August) and it is not minister Lenihan who is short of revolting . . . it is you, the Sunday Tribune, which is revolting.

What are we as a country to do . . . allow all foreign children who are autistic or challenged in any way into the country?

You should be ashamed to call yourselves an Irish newspaper. I will never, and I mean never, put my hand in my pocket for the 2.50 for your paper again. I will be buying the Sunday Mail instead, at least you get balance in that paper. I could go on, but I won't waste my time.

Oh, do you want the female garda to wear the burka as a uniform as well?

Leigh Kelly, leigh0098@yahoo. com From Jim Fahy

REGARDING your editorial (19 August) on the wearing of head dress by members of the Sikh community, I would refer you to an article by Marian W Smith, formerly University of London, in which she states that one of the five obligations of the Sikhs was the wearing of a sword. Obviously this has been deleted. She also mentioned that quite a number of the community were clean shaven which was a breach of number one of the five Ks . . . to wear a beard.

If her report is factual, then there is no problem in waiving the requirement of having one's hair cut. Perhaps Ali Bracken would do a more indepth report on the matter.

Jim Fahy, Ennis, Co Clare.

Roses came with thorns in the past

From Gina Byrne

I WAS interested to read that all this year's Roses were getting along so well (19 August) and could report no real feeling of competitiveness.

Isn't this the case every year? Well, things were not quite so rosy in the garden of my small experience. I was an entrant in the Dublin competition, albeit a good few pale moons ago. All was friendly and frost-free right up until the final whistle was blown, and the winner (not me alas) was duly crowned and sashed. Straight away, the gloves were off for some and fair charms dispensed with.

One girl blanked me in the toilets immediately afterwards. Ditto another entrant who I encountered in town the next day. But the manure was really being dug when I got a phone call a number of days later. A few of the girls had come up with their very own conspiracy theory, compiling a list of absurd clues to prove that the whole thing was a fix. I declined to add my name to the letter they were sending to the organisers. You can only imagine the huge sigh of relief from the judges afterwards, that none of those prickly signatories had been chosen.

So, present-day Roses are obviously of a more mature variety, with no thorns on show. May the bonhomie last long after the pale moon has risen and the tiara has settled on the lovely and fair head of the 2007 winning Rose.

Gina Byrne, Annaholty, Birdhill, Co Tipperary.

Waterford's semifinal elimination

From Mick Power

I AM sick and tired of Munster whingers like Kieran Shannon making excuses for Waterford hurlers' consistent failure (19 August). Waterford had an ideal draw with plenty of hard games regularly and if games crept up on them it was because they needed two goes to beat a shot Cork team.

Waterford lost the All Ireland semi-final because they let in five goals. You win nothing conceding five goals. Anything else is an excuse.

As Enda McEvoy says, Waterford have been found wanting now in five semi-finals against four different counties.

The excuses have run out.

During this time Kilkenny have won four All Irelands with another to come. I can tell Kieran that Kilkenny don't feel devalued. All Munster teams have been put to the sword regularly and Limerick will provide as much novelty as Waterford would have done next Sunday so it makes no odds to us who we play. You can do the whinging Kieran, and we'll collect the cup.

Mick Power, Dunmore Road, Waterford.

Slithering in the mud at Stones in Slane

From Sally and Rod Bruce

WE REFER to your article 'Stone Me' by Neil Dunphy (News, 19 August). We have been passionate Stones' fans and have attended many concerts. We were thrilled to combine Slane Castle with our first visit to Ireland.

"Firm underfoot" it was not.

After slithering our way towards the venue, we were dismayed by the muddy conditions which were regularly described as "lethal" by various stewards. The portaloos were completely inadequate; by 7pm most were in an appalling condition. Men relieved themselves anywhere, whilst the women queued forever.

We were in a seated stand, quite some distance from the stage; not allowed to dance for health and safety reasons!

I have no doubt that the revellers near the stage had a wonderful time but given the huge financial resources that the Stones have, a little more attention to comfort would have been welcome.

The poor weather was expected and arrangements could have been put in place to alleviate some of the mud. A poor show all round!

Our congratulations to Dublin Bus whose organisation of buses to and from the venue, in difficult conditions, was excellent.

Sally and Rod Bruce, rodrb-211@ntlworld. com