Letters to the editor: €20bn up in smoke; SF need to atone

€20 billion literally up in smoke

Editor,

What could be the biggest waste of money in the history of the state, beyond the spend on bicycle sheds and security huts, is the absolute disaster of handing over €20 billion in fines in five years. That money could pay for essential infrastructure projects over those five years, which could mean no fines. Doing nothing would represent an essential loss to the exchequer of €100 billion, but if we build the necessary infrastructure in transport, energy and agriculture with some real ambition, it is a win-win for the climate, economy and communities.

Think how may rail lines, bus routes, solar panels, offshore renewables, retrofitting, and agricultural practice improvements €20 billion could fund. For example, Ireland one is of the most suitable places in the world for wave energy, but the argument is that the initial investment is too great.

But there is a chance to realise the major emissions savings that could come from such technology.

Hydrogen or ammonia fuelled vehicles are a real emission saver. We need real investment in low emission farm technologies and grants to Irish farmers to make the necessary changes and avoid bringing beef half way around the world under the Mercosur trade deal.

We refuse to invest the Apple money in climate action measures; it seems it is earmarked for housing, water and health – and what of the AIB share dividend?

The Climate Advisory Council sit here for a reason, and like the Fiscal Advisory Council, we either listen to them or disband them and stop the window dressing. The Climate Change Advisory Council said recently that while emissions fell last year in Ireland, a lack of significant progress means it is unlikely we will meet our second carbon budget for 2026-2030.

If you divided the €20 billion possible fine across transport, agriculture and renewable energy projects (from the three biggest emitters), you would have almost €7 billion to spend on each. Transport for example is such a no-brainer: reopen the Navan line, the Western rail corridor, the Mullingar to Athlone line, double track essential lines like Dublin to Mullingar, and reopen dormant stations like Killucan. An enhanced bus service between major towns and shuttle buses to meet them would also be possible. Think of the thousands of cars off the roads every day and the huge reduction in emissions.

The same is true in agriculture and renewable energies as there are hundreds of worthwhile projects, from anaerobic digestion and new slurry spreading technology to offshore wind and affordable home retrofitting and solar panels.

Isn’t it an absolute no-brainer to invest in our communities, households, businesses, transport network, and essential industries like agriculture rather than putting our heads in the sand for another five years, when none of that is built, and the €20 billion fine that looms could be even greater by 2030.

Yours, Denis Leonard, Kinnegad

‘Sinn Féin need to atone’

Editor,

The Sinn Féin have complained “the reluctance of the Free State Establishment to move on from holding [the] party accountable for the actions of the Provisional IRA during the troubles”. Sinn Féin want to run with the hare and hunt with the hound on that and many other issues.

The actions of the Provisional IRA included the direct murder of approximately 2,000 people, the maiming of tens of thousands, and the destruction of properties and businesses.

In addition when setting off bombs, they gave no warnings. They stood back and allowed innocent Irish people to go to jail in the UK for Provisional IRA crimes, and made the lives of ordinary Irish people in the UK awful. Sinn Féin to this day defend the Provisional IRA mayhem as “necessary”. Even since the Good Friday Agreement, they see their members as exempt from criminal prosecution.

Take the McCartney and Quinn murders and cover-up, the complete breach of Covid restrictions when at the funeral of an IRA leader in Belfast. They wish to end the use of the Special Criminal Court for all of the wrong reasons.

How could anyone trust Sinn Féin when they behave with impunity in respect of Provisional IRA and their own actions. They need to show atonement for a change.

Yours, Denis Larkin, Auburn Road, Mullingar.