Sir, – I agree with your editorial that “developing an economic plan to increase the economy’s capacity and doing so in a way that tackles the urgent need to reduce emissions is now the central economic task facing the Coalition” (”The Irish Times view on the latest exchequer figures: a surplus of riches”, April 19th).
However, the Government has a strong track record of speaking out of both sides of its mouth when it comes to tackling climate change.
The news that exports of Irish beef to China are to recommence is the latest example (shipments to China had been suspended following the confirmation of a case of BSE in May 2020).
Minister for Agriculture Charlie McConalogue recently said that he looked forward “to seeing the value of the Chinese market grow in the time ahead to reward the efforts of everyone involved” (“Beef exports to China to resume after near three-year hiatus”, News, January 5th).
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China has a population of over 1.4 billion people.
How is heavily subsidising and increasing the production of the most environmentally damaging food product in our most polluting industry and exporting it over 8,000km away to the world’s most populous country, with an explicit intention to grow this market, in keeping with Micheál Martin’s “Future generations will not forgive us” clarion call at Cop-27?
I would appear that some of those in Government would like their planet well done. – Yours, etc,
ROB SADLIER,
Rathfarnham,
Dublin 16.