Sir, – As an Irish woman and a global citizen I wish to express my deep sadness and disappointment at the stance taken by our Taoiseach at the climate conference in Paris. Ireland has a strong history of reacting with empathy and generosity to the needs of our fellow global citizens living with the impact of war, famine and environmental disasters.
Faced with the harsh facts of the impending impact of climate change, which include environmental destruction, injustice, hunger and mass migration, our Taoiseach needs to have faith in the Irish people and believe that we have the capacity and integrity to take our moral obligations seriously and act responsibly as global citizens. He must also realise that our own long-term self-interests as a nation are best served by meeting this challenge. – Yours, etc,
Dr ANN HIGGINS,
Cratloe,
Co Clare.
Sir, – So the rest of us have to reduce our carbon emissions more than we would otherwise or face hefty fines? This is because farmers are protected and so can maintain or even increase their herds of cattle and sheep, which already amount to 30 per cent of all Irish emissions.
It seems that yet another burden is to be placed on the long-suffering Irish taxpayers to keep farmers happy.
This is the same community that has, over at least 20 years, offered derisively meagre crumbs to allow legal access to the countryside, which would have cost it little or nothing and which if implemented, as in other European countries, would have had great benefits for the health of the nation and for tourism and – irony of ironies – would have benefited farmers who want to diversify into agri-tourism.
You have to hand it to the IFA leaders. With the brass neck to pull off such spectacular deals, they deserve every cent of their hitherto colossal earnings. – Yours, etc,
DAVID HERMAN,
Churchtown,
Dublin 16.
Sir, – In light of some consequences of climate change, are the Dublin Docklands a good place to be building anything? – Yours, etc,
MICHAEL McWILLIAM,
Blackrock,
Co Dublin.