Sir, - I cannot allow the letter from P. O'Shea (June 30th) to pass without comment. The farmers of Ireland did not impose the onerous restrictions to prevent foot-and-mouth disease. The precautions were devised by the Government and various concerned bodies to protect the entire nation from its ravages. The fact that this country depends utterly on agriculture seems to have been missed.
Perhaps P. O'Shea would rather have carried on life as normal. I am sure that if we had lost, for instance, a large part of the national dairy herd, he or she would have happily bought imported milk. At what price? If the disease had prevailed here we would all have suffered. We should all be grateful to have escaped.
Lest there be any confusion I should state that I do not keep any farm animals, though I do live in the countryside. It is indeed strange that anyone should suggest that, in gratitude to the non-farming community, farmers should willingly give up their land to provide additional road space. Many of those who will be affected by the new roads are not farmers. Would P. O'Shea be willing to provide the National Roads Authority with his or her house and garden as a road location, without sufficient compensation to purchase a suitable alternative? I think not! If I am wrong, please write to the NRA and make them an offer.
Who knows? If enough people followed this lead the NRA might be able to build the roads without having to force anyone to sell.
Many people who live in rural areas do so by choice, and do not want a motorway within a few feet of their front windows. I am one of these people. Compensation is not of interest to many, including myself. I believe I have rights under the Constitution to live where I wish, to purchase property, and to sell it when and if I desire to, at a price acceptable to me.
It is wrong that anyone, farmer or not, should be forced to sell against their will with the price and conditions of sale imposed by others. - Yours, etc.,
Andrew Wallace, Ballacolla, Abbeyleix, Co Laois.