Madam, – The report headed “Proposal to extend Marble Arch Park” (The Irish Times, December 29th) illustrates yet again the unwillingness of anyone in authority, north or south, to say boo to landowners, primarily farmers.
The cross-Broder local authorities in question (Fermanagh and Cavan) say meekly that because of the laws – seemingly immutable laws – the public do not have the right to walk on private ground in either Northern Ireland or the Republic. And just in case this isn’t clear enough, they add that “they must not give the impression that some private land is included” in the proposed park. (Such absolute private property rights are not countenanced elsewhere in Europe.) However, the good news is that the public is invited to view the natural features “at a distance”. That is, presumably,unless the farmers consider such viewing an intrusion on their sacred property rights.
Farmers in the Republic are now receiving grants, increasingly from Irish taxpayers, totalling at least €1.5 billion a year for doing exactly nothing. But don’t expect them to give anything back unless they receive yet more grants in spadefuls. And don’t expect the authorities to mildly reprimand them, still less take them on. – Yours, etc,