Madam, – Safety is the reason that any airport, whether large or small, decides to suspend operations due to snow and ice. The safety of all passengers – whether someone’s six-year-old daughter or 70-year-old grandmother – is an airport operator’s primary concern (Letters, December 1st).
Passenger safety is the reason airports such as Gatwick, London City, Edinburgh, Aberdeen, Newcastle, and Southampton also suspended flight operations due to snow in recent days.
Dublin Airport has the appropriate level of snow and ice clearing equipment for the Irish climate. – Yours, etc,
Madam, – Returning home on the Luas Green line on Wednesday evening, our journey was stopped mid-way due a large mound of snow which had been deliberately placed on the tracks. We were able to move on only due to the commendable efforts of our driver, who, along with other passengers, removed the snow with his bare hands until it was safe for us to proceed.
Although it was disheartening that a childish prank could have caused such obstruction, there is a lesson to be learned from this story. Even in these austere times, this show of solidarity in the face of a crisis showed that there yet remains a positive implication to the phrase, “being given a dig out”. – Yours, etc,
Madam, – I just cannot believe the number of people I have seen on their mobile phones while driving in the snow. What is wrong with us? – Yours, etc,
Madam, – It’s not rocket science! If Dublin city traders want to encourage shoppers into the shops during the current snow they will just have to clear the pavements themselves. The time has gone when “they” can be relied on to do everything and we all will have to start doing things ourselves. Anyway, where are all the enterprising snow-shovellers? – Yours, etc,
Madam, – As a mature student (primary teaching) experiencing her second recession, it is a welcome break to read about our severe weather conditions. The alternative is listening to how we will be teaching for the dole, paid 10 per cent less and receive no allowances for Master’s qualifications should we have one or choose to do one when qualified.
The prospects are bleak but the landscape is, just for now, beautiful. – Yours, etc,
Madam, – My doorbell rang at 10am, Tuesday during the height of a blizzard. It was the postman, who didn’t want to bend an envelope which he thought might contain something delicate. Could anyone please enlighten me on how privatising An Post is meant to improve service? – Yours, etc,
Madam, – I have come from abroad to live in Dublin and I’m noticing for the second year a complete disruption and an almost total collapse of any business and social activity in the city due to the recent ongoing snow conditions. Most of the offices and industries are empty, schools are closed, public services are in extreme difficulties.
I understand that for Ireland, snow is (or was) quite an extraordinary event, but in no way can a European capital submit to having its roads in such icy and impracticable conditions for more than few hours.
Is the government evaluating the loss of GDP that this is causing to the country? – Yours, etc,