Sir, - Your editorial (December 3rd) on compensation to farmers for road building through their farms was inaccurate and amounts to unfair comment.
The ICMSA is negotiating, in the context of the PPF, with the Department of the Environment and Local Government to ensure full compensation for the legitimate property and business rights of farmers. This is surely what any other representative body in the social partnership structure would do, be they from the employer and business, trade union, community or voluntary pillars.
The ICMSA has set out in clear detail issues that need to be addressed by the Minister for the Environment and Local Government in order to finalise a fair deal for road compensation. These include retrospective payment of increased compensation, that the NRA should be bound by the decision of an independent assessor and that a detailed code of practice be put in place.
Our negotiations with the Department are considered, constructive and crucial in the interests of thousands of farmers. We intend to continue this approach, notwithstanding your rather intemperate Editorial. - Yours, etc.,
Ciarβn Dolan, General Secretary, ICMSA, Dublin Road, Limerick.