Seirbhís Chuimhneacháin

Memorial Service

by | 2025/05/07 | Current Affairs, Personal, Opinion, Obituary

Memorial Service

Parents suffer terribly when their child dies. They never recover. My friend, Michael, recently lost his adult child. I hadn’t seen Michael at the gym for a month or two. I didn’t know why, but I thought he was on vacation. Unfortunately, he wasn’t.

Michael’s friend sent me a text last week, with a link to an obituary. At first, I was confused, because I didn’t understand why I was getting that notice. Then I saw that Michael was the father of the young person who died. But that’s just the beginning.

Invitation to the memorial service

Often, there is no big funeral when people die in California. However, a month or two later, a memorial service is held for them. Family and friends attend this celebration of life, and there are usually food and drinks available. I received an invitation to the service via another text, and I replied that my wife and I would be there. On Saturday, we dressed up for the occasion, and drove to the service venue - a golf course. We went there and a sign directed us to the ballroom. There was a table just inside the ballroom door, which had a screen showing photos from Áine's life there, and other mementos on the table as well. She had only been 22 years old when she died.

Micheál, Máire and Pádraicín were with her, and they welcomed everyone as they came in. Áine's parents - Micheál and Máire, have been divorced for a few years, and Padraicín is his current partner. A staff member then directed us to our seats. There was a leaflet on each seat for us, with a photo of a man (Liam) on the front page and a photo of a woman (Áine) on the back page, and a program on the center pages.

Áine was a male-to-female transgender person. She had gender reassignment surgery a few years ago when she was 20 years old. She grew up as a boy named Liam.

There were many people mentioned on the programme: Micheál at the beginning, Áine’s sister, Áine’s friends, her uncle and aunt, Padraicín and Máire at the end.

Celebration of Áine/Liam’s life

Micheál thanked us all for being there. It gave him and his family support and comfort, he said. He had fond memories of Áine and the relationship between them, and Micheál broke down crying from time to time during his speech, because it was very difficult for him to be up on stage, talking about his child like that. He said that it was difficult for him, his ex-partner, and his partner to accept it when Liam (at the time) told him what he was thinking. But they accepted him, and gave him their full support. When Liam had changed to Áine, Micheál admitted that he had never seen his child so happy before. She did not live at home at the time, but she went there often, because the university she attended was not too far from home. Micheál then said that things are not easy in America right now, but especially if you are transgender or an immigrant. The government targets all kinds of attacks on vulnerable people like that, he said. I was in tears and so was everyone listening to him, because this is an incredibly tragic story.

Áine’s sister, Emma, then came up on stage. She told us funny stories, because Liam was definitely a character, as they grew up together. There was devilment in his jokes. When someone was on the side of the road fixing a hole in their wheel, Liam rolled down his window and shouted at the poor guy, saying they weren’t allowed to park there. Emma said that Liam was also very smart, and that it was easy for him to learn science and maths. He enrolled in an engineering course at university without any problems, as he got great results in the entrance exams.

Everyone else praised Liam/Áine highly, both family and friends, and they had lots of stories to tell. At the end, Liam/Áine’s mother came up, and she also told a story or two. Then, she recited a poem by Robert Burns. The heartfelt speeches touched us all emotionally. Everyone was exhausted by the end.

Food and drinks were available afterwards. Most of the people at our table - all of us Michael’s friends from the gym - were leaving. So, we went home too, because we didn’t know anyone else, except for Micheál, and he was already very busy.

Conclusion

The suicide attempt rate among transgender people worldwide is between 32% and 50%. The main risk factors influencing suicidal behavior among transgender people are gender-based victimization, discrimination, bullying, violence, rejection by family, friends and the community; harassment by a personal partner, family members, the police, the community and the government, and discrimination and abuse in the health care system.

We will never know all the factors that formed a major influence on Áine, but the cultural and political environment were likely a few of them. In any case, it is a great sadness to her family, her friends and all of us, that Áine lost her life by suicide in the prime of her life, – eternal peace to her soul.

Litir ó Mheiriceá – An troid in aghaidh na holagarcachta!

Letter from America - the fight against oligarchy!

by | 2025/04/17 | Current Affairs, International News, Opinion

Litir ó Mheiriceá – An troid in aghaidh na holagarcachta!

“"When you see something that is not right, not fair, not just, you have to speak out. You have to say something; you have to do something."

-John Lewis (1940-2020) - American civil rights activist.

This is not the time to be silent here in America, with democracy in mortal danger. It is time for us to stand up publicly, to defend democracy against the imminent threat of oligarchy. The worst thing we can do is to be silent, to say nothing about what is happening before our eyes. Most Republicans are happy to sit back in government and do nothing, while President Trump and his colleagues permanently damage the federal government, and violate the constitution more blatantly every day. The Democratic Party or the Independents are not doing enough either – with a few notable exceptions. Independent Senator (Vermont) Bernie Sanders and Democratic Representative (New York) Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (AOC) are currently on a major political tour of the United States, titled ‘Fight Autocracy’. They were not expecting the turnout they are getting across the country. A week ago, I attended another local protest in my hometown of San Diego County, and I was thrilled to be there, along with others who are not content to sit back and do nothing about the corruption going on in Washington, DC. When I heard that Bernie Sanders and AOC were coming to Los Angeles, it was an easy decision to attend this special event!

Fight Autocracy

On April 12th, my wife and I took the train to downtown Los Angeles (Union Station) early in the morning. After a short walk to Gloria Molina Park, we entered through security gates. We didn’t need to be there so early, as local politicians and guest speakers from various unions were on stage throughout the morning. We went out to find food after a while, as there were long lines waiting for the catering trucks and portable toilets. We were very lucky, as we found a food court near the park, and had a nice lunch before returning.

The main events really began at one o’clock in the evening, when Joan Baez took the stage. She opened with the country song “Ain’t Gonna Let Nobody Turn Me Around,” and the crowd cheered wildly as she sang new lyrics saying “I won’t let no white supremacists turn me around” and “I won’t let those ugly billionaires turn me around.” She followed with “There But For Fortune,” as well as a stirring cover of John Lennon’s “Imagine.”

Baez expressed her disdain for the Trump administration last month when she appeared on John Mulaney’s “Everybody’s Live With John Mulaney” and said, “Our democracy is on fire!”

Singer-songwriter Maggie Rogers then took the stage, singing “Different Kind of World,” “Light On” and “Alaska.” Baez returned to the stage and sang “America the Beautiful” together.

Neil Young got his turn before AOC and Sanders, coming out with his electric guitar and mouth organ, singing “Take America back” to the crowd while playing power chords on his guitar. Young performed “Rainbow of Colors,” “Take America back,” again, and at the end of his set sang “Rockin’ in the Free World” with Baez.

AOC and Bernie

Then it was time for AOC to take the stage. She didn’t mince her words, calling it a scary time. “We’re seeing neighbors, students, and friends losing their jobs; they’re being harassed and even kidnapped by the government.” She also said that power, greed, and corruption are taking over the country like never before.

When Bernie Sanders took the stage, we were all excited. He told us that there were 36,000 of us in attendance, which Trump and Musk wouldn’t want to see. “This is an era where the Republican party has become a cult, giving in to Trump’s every whim,” Sanders told us, adding that the Trump administration is now “planning how they can give $1.1 trillion in tax breaks to the wealthy.” He also said that these are very dangerous times, and that our response will have a significant impact, not just on us, but on future generations. He said a few other things that really struck me. “I’m no longer saying we’re moving towards oligarchy, I’m saying we’re now living in an oligarchic society.” He also said “In our democracy, we need to stop billionaires being able to buy elections!”

Conclusion

Those are just a few examples of what AOC and Bernie Sanders had to say, but I tried to convey the essence of their speeches. I can’t explain the emotions to you, either. But we were up and down, laughing and crying, and emotions ran through all of us present. But overall, it was an inspiring experience for all of us who attended this rally. We are not alone, and we are not powerless. But we all need to stand up every time we see the government doing something wrong, and oppose it in every legal way we can. In particular, when we have the opportunity to vote in the midterm elections next year, it is our critical duty to use that power to throw Trump's cronies out of the House of Representatives and the Senate, and to put new representatives and senators in power – people who will fight for us, not for the oligarchs.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Is maith an aire an fhógairt…! (2)

Forewarned is Forearmed...! (2)

by | 2025/04/08 | Short stories, Opinion

Forewarned is Forearmed...! (2)

Fraud?

I drove home in my newly purchased car. My wife and I were very happy with it. But I had a nagging suspicion, and I didn’t sleep well that night. In the morning, after my breakfast, I examined the sales contract. The details were on the back of a page so that they were not easy to find. There was a line that caught my attention: Security system: $750. What the hell? I refused to buy that system from the start. There was another page – a sales contract for the security system – and my own signature at the bottom of the page. Ámharach didn’t say anything about the system again after I initially rejected it. But unbeknownst to me, he put his sales contract on the screen and lured my signature from me. He was probably telling me a story at that time, to distract me from the same form. Legally, I was sunk, and I was properly ‘screwed’. I was embarrassed to be tricked like that. I was also angry and not ready to let this pass me by without a fight.   

My Response

I called Perry, explaining that I had not agreed to buy the security system, but among all the forms, there was one in which the system was sold to me without my knowledge. It was a mistake, I said. Oddly enough, Perry had no argument about it.

“No problem! Lucky will contact you, to disable the system and give you your money back.”

I went back to Toyota the next day to meet Lucky. I saw him walking between two buildings, and I called over to him.

“I have a client right now, but come back to me in half an hour,” was the answer I received.

Half an hour later we were back in his office. He showed me the contract.

“You signed here for the security system!” he said, looking very worked up.

“You’re right, but I didn’t realize it. I turned down the system when you offered it to me at a discount.”

“I didn’t do that, I didn’t say anything about it!” said Lucky defensively, interrupting me.

“The system was already included with the car,” said Lucky, and he waved a few forms in the air. “Haven’t you seen this form?” he said, pointing his finger at one form.

“I’ve never seen that form!” I said.

“It’s a good thing I haven’t cashed your check yet!” said Lucky, attempting to change the subject of conversation. “We have to sign a new contract now!”

We went through the same ritual again, and this time there was no mention of a security system on any of the forms he pulled up on the screen! That done, I wrote a new check without the cost of the security system. I was pretty happy with myself, but there was a little voice in my head telling me that what happened to me shouldn’t have happened. I thought about it later, and here are my conclusions and suggestions. I hope they help you the next time you need to buy a car!

Conclusions

In my opinion, this is not the first time Perry and Lucky have pulled this trick – it wasn’t their first rodeo! They were used to this trick to steal money from their customers. That’s the bottom line!

Perry and Lucky used a few techniques in this trick:

  1. Put your customers at ease. It will then be easier to catch them unawares. The best way to do this is to tell them personal stories most of the time. You can make up sob stories to create a stronger bond. Because that’s the behavior of a trusted friend, and they are likely to feel sorry for you.
  2. Distract your customers from their work. Make sure you are talking at times when you don’t want them to pay attention to something specific. For example, Perry was talking the entire time when I was trying to test drive the car. Also, it was not easy to interrupt him to ask him a question while he was telling me a personal story. I am sure that Ámharach was also telling me a story when he put the form regarding the security system on the screen.
  3. Have a plan B as a team in case the customer sees the sales contract for the security system. It is clear that Perry and Ámharach were working hand in hand. When I asked Perry how that ‘mistake’ happened, he said that the security system must have been a default option in the contract, and that he did not include it in the contract. But Ámharach said that the security system was included in the contract he was given.

That’s plan B – back off and tell the customers involved that this was an internal misunderstanding. Don’t admit you did anything wrong. Put the customers on their guard through this process, and chances are they won’t complain, because didn’t they sign the contract confirming they bought the security system in the first place? Then, give them their money back immediately. You don’t want the same complaints to reach the management of the dealership, in case the fraud comes to light.

Recommendations

When a sales representative or financial representative is too friendly and talkative with you – beware! In my case, neither of them was too friendly or talkative the second time around! This shows that they weren’t genuine the first time but were working for their own benefit.

Read every page of the contract before you sign it, even if the financial representative is blabbering! If you don’t do this, you may end up unknowingly buying an option you don’t need, just like I did. Look carefully at the numbers too, and make sure there are no extra costs.

Examine the contract carefully one more time when you get home. If you see a ‘mistake’, go back and explain it to the sales rep. Chances are they have a plan B too and will fix the ‘mistake’ for you in no time!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Is maith an aire an fhógairt…! (2)

Forewarned is Forearmed...! (1)

by | 2025/04/03 | Short stories, Opinion

Forewarned is forearmed!

It’s a shame that I completely forgot the old saying “Forewarned is forearmed‘!’ or ‘Caveat Emptor’ in Latin, when I was recently buying a car at a Toyota dealership. I’ve learned a lot from my experience, and I have a few tips that could make a big difference when you’re buying a car.

It was time for us to buy a car and ours was on its last legs. So we visited a Toyota dealership near us. We were interested in a hybrid car and they have a few models that would suit us. Although they primarily sell new cars, they also sell used cars, and that’s what we were looking for – a used car in good condition.

As soon as we got out of our car, a salesman came up to us with his hand outstretched.

“Hello, how can I help you today?” he said.

“We’re looking for a used hybrid car and I saw on the internet that you have a few of them here!” I said.

He showed us the cars we were interested in, and one of them ticked all the boxes.

“Thank you,” I said. “We’re in a hurry right now but we’ll get back to you if we have any questions.” I wouldn’t buy a car without thinking it through first.

“Okay,” Perry said, “I’ll be here. Here’s my business card!” He gave me his card, and we went home.

I did some more research at home on the internet, and we decided to go back the next day, to at least take the car for a test drive. I called Perry the next day and negotiated a lower asking price in advance. I was quite happy with the price we had agreed upon, and I immediately went back to the dealership.

Sleight of Hand

Perry was waiting for me with the keys and we went on a test drive together. Perry was friendly and chatty in the car. While that was nice in one way, it took my mind off the work I had to do – test drive the car to evaluate it on various criteria – handling, operation, performance and the like. Toyota had certified the car for 160 criteria, and a few changes had been made as a result. Despite Perry’s gabbing, I was able to complete my test, and I was satisfied that the car had no major problems in terms of driving. In addition to everything else, there were also a few warranties included which was attractive. I was ready to take the next step, and I told Perry so. We shook hands, and we went to the office of the finance manager, a man named Awverak.

“Don’t worry at all!” said Awverak. “It won’t take us long to finish this job! Sit down at the table!”

He then asked me a question.

“I can offer you a security system at a big discount, down from $1195 to $795. Would you like to buy it?” said Awverak.

“I don’t want to - no!” I said.

“We’ll disable the alarm then.”

Then, he tapped the table in front of us with a stylus, and a sales contract appeared on a screen on the table surface.

“We’ll do everything on the computer!” said Awverak proudly.

Then, he gave me a stylus, to write my digital signature on the screen. He pulled up form after form on the surface of that table, with boxes to put my signature in and other boxes to write my initials in. My head was spinning as the forms came up at lightning speed with the many boxes in them waiting for me.  

Awverak told me what the forms I was signing involved, and I had complete confidence in him. It wouldn’t have been easy for me to read each form, especially since it wasn’t easy to even see the screen at a sharp angle.

Awverak was also friendly and chatty, telling me personal stories about his own life during the process. His spontaneity was enough to distract me, but couldn’t I trust this nice guy to do the right thing, being an employee of that trusted company Toyota? We had everything done in a flash and I had the keys of the car in my hands! More to come…

 

 

 

 

 

 

An Ghéarchéim Cógaisíochta!

The Pharmaceutical Crisis!

by | 2025/03/25 | Current Affairs, International News, National News, Opinion

An Ghéarchéim Cógaisíochta

Background

The pharmaceutical industry is the backbone of the Irish economy, contributing significantly to employment, investment and innovation in the country. Many years ago, the Industrial Development Agency (IDA) lured pharmaceutical and technology companies to Ireland with an offer they found hard to refuse, namely a very favourable tax regime compared to their domestic tax regimes in the United States of America (US) and the European Union (EU). It is no surprise, then, that Ireland has been heavily criticized for its tax system by the US and the EU (particularly France and Germany) and the United Kingdom (UK). In response to this international pressure, the Irish government has overhauled its tax system, abolishing the complex scheme known as the ‘Double Irish’ (in 2020) and adopting a global minimum tax rate (in 2021) set by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). Unfortunately, these significant changes have not silenced its critics. Trump raised the issue with Taoiseach Micheál Martin in the Oval Office of the White House on 12 March, saying: “You have taken over our pharmaceutical companies and other companies… The US pharmaceutical industry is completely in the hands of this beautiful island of 5 million people.” He threatened to impose a 200% tariff on pharmaceuticals imported from Ireland to the US. Was President Trump right?

The Problem

President Trump made a good point, and that is a cause for concern, as the Irish economy is heavily dependent on exports to the US, but particularly pharmaceutical exports. In 2024, Ireland exported €224 billion of goods to other countries; of that €72.6 billion of goods to the US, and of that €58 billion of pharmaceuticals. That is a significant number, when you put it in context. The three largest exporters to the US in the EU last year (2024) were Germany (€161 billion), Ireland (€72 billion) and Italy (€65 billion). What is going on here? It is money laundering, albeit legal.

A Couple of Examples

  1. Intellectual Property (IP) & Royalty Payments

Imagine that the company ‘Drugs’ creates a new drug in the US called ‘Relief’. Instead of registering the patent in the United States, Drugs registers the patent under its subsidiary in Ireland, Drugs Ireland.

Now, every time Drugs (US) sells Relief in the United States, US Drugs must pay a royalty fee to Drugs Ireland for the use of the patent. Needless to say, the royalty fee is intentionally very high. Therefore, profits are lower in the United States (because of the royalty fees), and higher in Ireland (where the tax is lower).

  1. Price Manipulation

Drugs Ireland makes Relief for $10 per pill. Instead of selling the drug directly to customers, Drugs Ireland sells it to US Drugs for $200 per pill. US Drugs then sells the pill in the United States for $220 per pill.

In this case, US Drugs reports a profit of $20 per pill in the United States, while Irish Drugs receives a profit of $190 per pill, which is taxable at a lower rate in Ireland. This keeps most of the profit in Ireland (where tax is lower).

Implications?

Many of the world’s pharmaceutical companies are based in the United States. There is a huge market for prescription drugs, and high prices have long been a controversial issue there. This is a political and economic concern in the United States, and puts pressure on its government’s pharmaceutical policies. The Irish government is receiving money that should have been paid to the US government, and the American people are having to pay for that shortfall in the form of higher pharmaceutical prices. US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick says this is a scam.

“We have to try to tackle the tax scams that are going on. Ireland is my favorite. Ireland had a $60 billion budget surplus last year. So [America] loses two trillion and they make $60 (billion). What do they do? They have all our intellectual property for our great technology. Our big tech companies and great pharmaceutical companies - they put all their intellectual property there because there is low tax to pay, and they don’t pay the US at all. So that’s over,” the secretary said.

Trump has threatened to impose tariffs on drugs coming from Ireland to the US – up to 200%. That would have a huge impact on the Irish economy and a deep recession in the country.

Solution?

It is clear that Trump (and Lutnick) are serious and in the absence of any other solution, they will most likely continue with steep tariffs on drugs coming from Ireland.

It is essential to put strategic policies in place to avoid such a crisis. The above schemes need to be implemented, and a plan needs to be devised and shared with the US government to phase them out in stages. If adopted, this will give us more time to find a long-term solution. The government needs to invest in the pharmaceutical and technology sectors, to create a business environment in the country, that will provide opportunities to people to set up companies, and attract qualified employees to them. Ireland has the appropriate expertise to reduce our dependence on the US as quickly as possible, and to diversify the economy which would be of great benefit to the country in the future. It is late and it is difficult, but we have no other choice now!

 

 

 

Litir ó Mheiriceá – Cruachás na bhfostaithe feidearálacha!

Letter from America - The plight of federal employees!

by | 2025/03/11 | Current Affairs, Literature, International News, Politics, Opinion

Letter from America - The plight of federal employees!

The Enemy Within

Everything is upside down in the United States of America (USA) right now, and it is a great pity. No other country can trust the USA anymore. It feels like President Trump is turning to the other side – the side of Russia. He is giving Russia the benefit of the doubt, while at the same time turning his back on his Allies, the European Union (including Ireland!), Ukraine, Canada and Mexico, to name just a few. This story will end badly, no doubt.

Even in the United States itself, Trump and his cronies are treating a large portion of their own citizens as if they were the enemy. His big ally, Elon Musk, is firing thousands of government employees, in a way that is brutal and cruel and, apparently, illegal. It reminds me of a movie called ‘Up in the Air’, starring George Clooney, and he has to fire people all over the country. When his boss suggests that he do his work on ‘Zoom’ or something similar, he has a big problem with that approach, because he has a conscience.

Musk goes a few steps further than that, because he fired many people at the same time, with a single email. He has no idea what he is doing, and many people are suffering as a result. Here are a few personal stories from people who have recently lost their federal jobs.

Samantha Leach

Samantha Leach was happy eight months ago. She landed the job she loved at the Federal Bureau of Engraving and Printing, working with a team that respected her skills and dedication.

That joy was dashed earlier this month. She learned (via email) that she was among thousands of federal government employees on probation who were suddenly laid off. The insult was compounded when she read that she had failed to perform her duties on the job. But Samantha received the highest rating - five out of five, in her most recent performance review.

“I was good, very good at the job I was assigned. I did everything right - literally! But despite everything, I was shown the door. That was a terrible blow, for someone like me who just wants to be where I fit in, contributing to the success of the federal government.”

Tony Ruiz

Tony Ruiz, of Orange County, California, was fired on February 3, just ten days before his probationary period as a Service Representative working for the Department of Veterans Affairs was to end.

The disabled army veteran said he was hired after 15 years in the private sector to help veterans with their benefit claims — for example, help with paperwork to approve a medical procedure or to enroll a spouse in a policy. Tony said he often handles up to 40 claims a day.

He was shocked and appalled when he read in his termination letter that his standard of work was unacceptable. Last August, Tony became the first employee in his department to win an “employee of the quarter” award, which came with a $1,000 cash prize.

“You’re telling me (that) one of the best employees, who was awarded money, and was employee of the quarter ... is a worthless person?” he said.

Tony found it hard to even leave the house at first and is taking some time to come to terms with what happened to him.

“I’m heartbroken, I’m devastated,” Tony said. “I don’t think any American federal employee, especially a veteran, deserves this.”

Analysis

Musk and his team have done a lot of damage to the federal government and its employees. We saw Musk on stage with a chainsaw, showing how focused he is on cost-cutting measures in the government. Musk has likely overstepped his authority and violated laws that protect federal employees. He has targeted the FAA (Federal Aviation Authority), USAID (United States Agency for International Development), and NASA (National Aeronautics and Space Administration), even trying to shut down USAID. Musk behaves as if the US government is part of his business. But the government is not there to make a profit, but for the benefit of the people of the country.

Trump’s ministers are not happy with the current state of affairs and Musk’s interference in their affairs. While Musk has given the boot to many people, the political responsibility for what he has done lies solely with the ministers. There was a heated meeting at the White House recently, with Trump, his ministers, and Musk in the room. There was a big argument between Musk and a few Secretaries, and in particular Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who heads USAID. The decision was made that Musk would no longer be able to directly give the sack to federal employees. He will put forward proposals on the subject, but the Secretaries will have the power to accept or reject them.

There is a power struggle going on between Musk and Trump’s ministers. Musk has been dealt a blow by the decision to make him an advocate without any power of action. But that is not a fatal blow, and I think Musk will not give up without a fight. But Trump’s ministers should have the power, so they will probably win the day. Without a doubt, Musk’s plan is falling apart, and he and Trump are up to their necks in lawsuits. In addition, public discontent with Musk’s actions is growing. It is clear that Trump or his ministers will have no desire to go further down the same road. Trump himself said they need to use a scalpel instead of an axe, because he understands the political risks of Musk's approach so far. I hope the US government will treat the federal workforce fairly, and stop mistreating these fine, honest people who are the backbone of the government!

 

 

 

 

 

 

en_USEnglish
en_USEnglish gaGaeilge