Sir, – It is dispiriting to hear that “there’s nothing more we can do” from Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII), the body responsible for managing traffic congestion on the M50 and other major roads.
But this is not true. While awaiting long-term solutions, there are numerous options for some easing of the problems quickly.
Commuters know to factor heavy traffic into their travel plans at peak hours, however it is impossible to know when a collision will bring traffic to a standstill for a considerable period. Collisions are a huge part of the problem.
Your contributor Paul O’Shea (Letters, December 9th) rightly suggests reducing the speed limit on HGVs to 80km/h, the EU standard.
RM Block
I would go further: lowering the speed limit for all vehicles to 80km/h would have a significant impact in reducing the number of collisions which occur every day; when collisions do occur, the severity would be reduced, the number and seriousness of injuries would also reduce, and fatalities may even be eliminated.
Additionally, the time taken to investigate crashes and to remove damaged vehicles would improve – more drivers would be able to continue on their journey without requiring a tow-truck.
Reducing speeds by 20 km/h has been shown in numerous studies – and real-world situations – to work in improving overall journey time and safety, and I would urge TII not to give up and implement some not-so- radical changes. Quickly. – Yours, etc,
PAUL WALDRON,
Ballinteer,
Dublin 16.
Sir, – Paul O’Shea’s suggestion regarding a HGV’s speed & tachographs is an excellent one and has a touch of the “stick” about it which is sadly absent from many decisions these days.
Why not attach a “carrot” and also offer our vital haulage industry the incentive of a radically reduced, or eliminated, toll charge for using the M50 off peak? It won’t suit all, but could suit many.
Given the chronic congestion, surely both the above ideas deserve at least a try for a few months?
It doesn’t seem too complicated and might have an immediate positive effect. – Yours, etc,
PETER KELLY,
Straffan,
Co Kildare.
Sir, – Brian Caulfield identified some practical solutions to help address congestion on the M50, all of which merit further consideration (“Tolls, buses and remote working: The short-term solutions to M50 gridlock,” December 8th).
I would add another. I regularly drive on the M50 from Bray to Tallaght for work and from Bray to Dublin Airport for travel.
I would gladly take a bus along the M50 to reach these destinations, or even somewhere reasonably close, if such an option existed.
I’m sure there are many other potential M50 bus users like me.
Perhaps Transport Infrastructure Ireland could undertake a feasibility study, if it hasn’t already done so, into providing a bus service along the M50, with stops located just off the motorway at key junctions like the Red Cow park and ride?
A pilot scheme could also be considered.
We need buses on the M50 to give people an alternative to using their car. –Yours, etc,
FERGAL O’LEARY,
Co Wicklow.
Sir, – Keith Nolan (Letters, December 10th) must be aware by now that according to RTÉ Radio 1 Road Watch, all slow moving traffic has moved to the Con Colbert Road. – Yours, etc,
JOHN BURNETT,
Co Cork.
UVF bombings
Sir, – In her article “No evidence of British collusion with loyalists over Dublin and Monaghan bombings” (December 9th), Freya McClements correctly notes that the UVF “later claimed responsibility” for the 1974 attacks that killed 34 people.
However, the word “later” may imply a claim made in the days following the bombings.
For the record, the UVF did not acknowledge responsibility for the “no warning” explosions until July 15th, 1993 – almost two decades after the atrocity. This admission came just a week after the broadcast of Yorkshire Television’s First Tuesday investigative documentary Hidden Hands: The Forgotten Massacre, which suggested that elements within the British state may have been involved. – Yours, etc,
LORCAN COLLINS,
Terenure,
Dublin 6W.
Kenova report
Sir, – Before people start looking for compensation, redress, or throwing the blame game for the actions of Freddie Scappaticci following the Kenova report, we should not forget all the parties involved.
Let us not just point the finger of blame for his work on British intelligence without also pointing it at the leaders of the IRA on whose orders he was operating and carrying out his brutal actions.
It is not an ideal situation, but the reality of those times must be borne in mind: we do not know what information was given by him that may have saved numerous other lives elsewhere.
Those involved in the “struggle” in those times should bear responsibility also, and realise that reconciliation can only happen when both sides admit their failings so that it never happens again. – Yours, etc,
JOHN BERGIN,
England.
Poverty measures
Sir, – Further to David McWilliams’s article (“In Ireland, the ‘working poor’ will determine future elections,” December 6th) highlighting how the current measure of poverty (below 60 per cent of median income) fails to measure actual poverty, the official measures of material deprivation and consistent poverty (in poverty and deprivation) are even further from the mark.
Material deprivation is measured in the annual, EU survey of income and living conditions by an 11-item list of goods and activities considered essential for normal life. Those who cannot afford at least two things on this list suffer material deprivation.
The Irish list is very outdated, with some items of questionable relevance, for example: “two pairs of strong shoes”, “a warm waterproof coat”. It does not include “inability to afford rent/bills etc”, “face unexpected expenses”, “access to a car/van for personal use”, or “ability to spend a small amount of money on oneself each week”, for example, which are part of the EU list.
As a result, material deprivation, like poverty, is hugely underestimated in Ireland.
In addition, we have no measures of persistent poverty (living in poverty for more than two years), fuel poverty or food poverty. What is not measured, or poorly measured, is not managed. – Yours, etc,
ELAINE MULLAN,
Lecturer,
School of Health Sciences,
SETU Waterford.
The influenza vaccine
Sir, – The news that the HSE did not consider it “cost effective” to purchase enhanced influenza vaccines for those in vulnerable categories beggars belief.
While many European countries have issued reinforced influenza vaccines for those aged over 65 we have instead abandoned our senior citizens for cost reasons.
It is proof yet again that the current Government’s mindset is economic not social. The irony is that in the long run the hospital overcrowding that will be exacerbated by the flu spike now under way will likely cost far more than the purchase of the enhanced vaccines would have in the first place. – Yours, etc,
DECLAN DEASY,
Castlebellingham,
Co Louth.
Sir, – I am not wealthy and while I am healthy I am willing to invest in staying healthy.
As an old-age-pensioner, I received my flu vaccine, paid from the public purse, on November 17th.
At that time, I was not aware the vaccine I was receiving was the standard flu vaccine because someone in the Civil Service determined it would be “too expensive” to provide the enhanced flu vaccine for free.
How much is “too expensive”?
If I had been given a choice, I would have paid for the enhanced flu vaccine myself. Why was I not informed and given that choice? – Yours, etc,
GREG SCANLON,
Shannon,
Co Clare.
Standing up for yourself
Sir, – Ireland has a long tradition of taking an independent and humanist stance on global affairs – from early Irish monks spreading learning across Europe to our modern values of openness, diversity and strong commitment to the European project.
The return of US president Donald Trump to the White House raises serious questions about America’s reliability as a partner that shares these principles.
His wavering commitment to Nato, mixed signals on supporting Ukraine and transactional approach to diplomacy seems to have become unhelpful in resolving the war.
They weaken allied unity, embolden Russian intransigence and undermine the consistent, rules-based effort required for a just peace.
In this context, it is prudent for Ireland to neutralise aspects of our strategic dependence on the US. Neutrality does not mean standing aside; it means standing up where required – for international law, human rights and European solidarity.
Ireland’s credibility has always come from choosing what is right, not what is convenient. –Yours, etc,
DONAL BUCKLEY,
Co Dublin.
Sir, – Europe’s leaders need to take a firmer stand in their dealings with Donald Trump and stop kissing his ring. The US president only respects “strong men” like his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin.
Trump sees even-handedness as a sign of weakness. In his eyes, playing by the rules is a loser’s game.
The more accommodating and at times sycophantic the “coalition of the willing” acts in trying to reach a peace deal to end the war in Ukraine, the more Trump feels empowered.
The best strategy when dealing with bullies is not to cower, but to face up to them and call their bluff. – Yours, etc,
MICHAEL CULLEN,
Sandycove,
Co Dublin.
Unexpected health cover
Sir, – I wrote to my health insurer today pointing out that I do not need maternity cover with my new plan for next year.
Why? Because I am 81 years old and male. Surely we can get insurance at a lower rate if we are never going to avail of this service?
I hope health insurers will sit up and take note. – Yours, etc,
KEVIN HOUGH,
Dublin 14.
A premium position
Sir, – I feel Jim Conway’s pain when his health insurance premium increased by 31 per cent (Letters, December 10th).
My house insurance premium increased by 22 per cent when the renewal notice arrived in the post recently.
I rang up the insurance intermediary and they told me the cost of rebuilding a house in the event of a fire had gone up substantially with the resulting knock-on effects in premiums. The kind gentleman on the phone told me, though, I could reduce the rebuild cost which would lower the premium.
So I explained in some detail to him what I believed, with some knowledge of the building industry, what the rebuild cost of my house would be in the event of a catastrophic fire.
He then checked my Eircode and told me the system won’t allow him to reduce the rebuild cost, not because of the type of house I live in, but because of “where” I live.
I did manage though to get the premium reduced to the same level as last year by simply doing my best impersonation of “an béal bocht”. – Yours, etc,
TOM McELLIGOTT,
Listowel,
Co Kerry.
Stretching it
Sir, – What is “middle-aged?” I think Róisín Ingle is stretching the definition (“Middle-aged women are killing it, sometimes literally on the streamers,” Life, December 10th), when, in support of her case about the influence of middle-aged women, she includes “the exceptional Emma Thompson (66)”.
That’s the age you get what used to be called the old-age pension. – Yours, etc,
JOE McLAUGHLIN,
Midlothian,
Scotland.
Remembering Con Houlihan
Sir – Reading “An Irishman’s Diary’’ by Denis McClean (December 8th) in which that great stalwart of Irish journalism, the late Con Houlihan was being remembered for his many colourful comments, both in print and verbally, brought to mind a particular occasion.
Con didn’t have a girlfriend at the time as we understand it. He had a “friend girl’’.
She was a very strong Dublin football supporter.
After Kerry triumphed over her favourite team in one All-Ireland final in the 1980s she went home distraught and very disappointed.
Con went to one of his favourite hostelries in the city centre.
When asked how his partner was taking defeat by the Kingdom, he replied: “House private, no flowers please.’’ – Yours, etc,
TOM TOWEY,
Cloonacool,
Co Sligo.
You know, you know
Sir, – Gerry Hickey laments the use of the phrase “you know” in general conversation, asking “if it’s this bad sober, what hope do we have after the third glass?”(Letters, December 9th).
Let it be known then that Mr Hickey already knows it all, and you should just know, rather than check, that he knows.
Let it also be known, that if you’d like to have a good time in Mr Hickey’s company, three drinks is a minimum. – Yours, etc,
NIALL MURPHY,
Glenageary,
Co Dublin.
Sir – On toxic and annoying verbal ticks I would like to draw attention to the expression “in terms of”, a particular form of linguistic weed that seems to be growing outward from its roots in a distinct mode of managerial/political verbal manoeuvring designed to avoid saying anything directly while at the same time saying everything at once. – Yours, etc,
ROBERT KILROY,
Kinvara,
Galway.
A bit judgmental
Sir, – In your Simplex crossword of today’s date (December 9th) , the solution to clue five down “The decision of a court of law” is “judgements”.
Legal judgments, however, are spelled so, with only one “e”.
I trust this is not too judgmental? – Yours, etc,
JULIA DRENNAN,
Dublin 7.
