Foot-And-Mouth Disease

Sir, - Peter Mantle (March 9th) refers to sacrifices being made on behalf of the farming community

Sir, - Peter Mantle (March 9th) refers to sacrifices being made on behalf of the farming community. The short-term measures we are being asked to follow, painful though they may be, are for the long-term good of the whole of the Republic and not just one section of the community, as Mr Mantle suggests.

Does he not think it a little tactless of him at such an emotive time to publish his weekly loss when there are people on this island, including many farmers, who do not have the simple luxury of earning £10,000 a year, hard though he may find this to believe? - Yours, etc.,

Rita Moore, Liscarney, Westport, Co Mayo