Sir, – As the Greek islands burn, and the Gulf Stream threatens to plunge vast swathes of Africa and Asia into crop failure by collapsing as early as this decade, Leo Varadkar wants Ireland to drive its carbon emissions even higher by building more roads (“All-island rail plan ‘makes the case’ for more road projects”, Taoiseach says, News, July 26th).
His comments, coming in response to the Minister for Transport’s unveiling of a national rail plan, underline the mistake the Greens made by entering into a Coalition with two parties addicted to endless economic growth. Eamon Ryan has pointed to the fact that Ireland now has legally binding emissions reduction targets. In reality, the Coalition’s decision to simply ignore the law means that the two major parties got Green support on controversial issues such as ending the eviction ban, without having to give anything in return.
Ireland does not have a long tradition of multiparty coalitions. In countries that do, governments have fallen over far less. – Is mise,
DESMOND MOLLOY,
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Graz,
Austria.
Sir, – The rail infrastructure investment plan is most welcome to cater for a growing population, to support rural Ireland and reduce emissions by encouraging more use of public transport. However, we will still have millions of motor vehicles using our roads for the next decades with a growing percentage being electric. Better roads lead to better efficiencies of both fossil fuel and electric vehicles and lead to lower emissions – therefore investment in the road infrastructure is as important as rail. I find it frustrating to listen to the Green Party constantly object to road investment when the environmental benefits are clear. Better roads will also encourage buyers to go electric, knowing that they will have shorter and smoother travel. – Yours, etc,
MAURICE J BERGIN,
Cork.