Sir, - Rita Moore (March 14th) seems to have missed the point being made by Peter Mantle (March 9th). Delphi Lodge is but one of many fishing-dependent houses that have had their sole form of income removed. That he should publish his lost revenue - not, please note, income - cannot be viewed in isolation.
There are a great number of fishing houses that, having managed to stay open and retain their staff through loss-making winters, should now be addressing their crippling overdrafts. Other families have spent the winter investing in their properties, fisheries, boats and marketing and are now being prevented from conducting their business.
The blanket ban on angling is a disproportionate reaction to the threat of the spread of foot-and-mouth. The majority of fisheries have completely controllable environments where all anglers and their equipment can be disinfected, the angler often has direct access to the water and at no time needs to cross agricultural land.
All we ask is that a measured approach is taken in conjunction with the regional fisheries boards to ensure that the risk is minimised without causing undue hardship, and in some cases, bankruptcy. - Yours etc.,
Patrick O'Flaherty, Chairman, Great Fishing Houses of Ireland, Recess, Co Galway.