Sir, – Brendan McGill concludes his letter (June 23rd) on Dublin Airport’s passenger cap with the words, “go figure”.
The difficulty is that the public cannot “go figure”, because the relevant information has never been supplied.
There may be sound economic reasons for removing the cap. Additional flights may generate tourism, employment and tax revenue, and bring other benefits. Equally, there can be little doubt that additional flights will result in additional greenhouse gas emissions.
If the Government believes the economic benefits outweigh the environmental cost, it should say so openly and explain its reasoning.
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What quantity of additional emissions is considered acceptable in return for what level of economic gain? If, for example, an extra 1,000 tonnes of carbon emissions were expected to generate €10 million in economic activity, would that be regarded as a worthwhile bargain? If so, why?
Citizens are routinely encouraged to reduce their own emissions by driving less, flying less, and changing other behaviour. They are entitled to know what value the Government places on the additional emissions it is prepared to facilitate through public policy.
The issue is not whether difficult trade-offs should be made. The issue is whether those trade-offs are being quantified, explained and justified, both mathematically and morally.
Until then, it is impossible to “go figure” because the necessary information to do so remains conspicuously absent. – Yours, etc,
PAUL O’SHEA,
Planet Before Profit CLG,
Shankill,
Dublin 18.
