Madam, - May I pay tribute to the mental machinations of our political masters? In two cases in the most recent past they have exceeded even my expectations.
With the world alive with discussion of global warming and climate change, they have shown the kind of urgent action required with their announcement that they intend to tackle head-on the problem of large cars, SUVs, etc. But not for a couple of years yet. Not until after the election. There's priorities for ye!
And then there is the energy rating of houses which they can't possibly bring in for, oh, say three years. Presumably because our loveable, rustic, gnarl-handed old craftmen/builders are a bit slow to change their much-loved traditional ways. The old dears!
But just a thought. In the meantime many many people will still buy houses, knowing that they will be sub-standard and devalued in a short few years. Will the developers and builders show their awareness of this by drastically cutting the prices of these soon-to-be outdated dwellings? Will the financial institutions curtail the lending for these soon-to-be-redundant homes? Will the buyers be aware of what is coming just around the corner? I doubt it. Still, as long as the votes in the ould election are not harmed. . .
We have long suspected that Fianna Fáil is the political wing of the construction industry, and that the PDs hold the same position for Ibec and big business. But can their contempt and disdain for the voters of this country really go unnoticed? Again? - Yours, etc,
RICHARD MURPHY, PRO, Westmeath Environmental Group, Hightown, Coralstown, Mullingar, Co Westmeath.