Sir, - The "untypically extreme language used by the Taoiseach" at Saturday's IMI conference in Killarney surprised not only the Irish Congress of Trade Unions (The Irish Times, Saturday, April 24th).
The Taoiseach's use of the snail at Pollardstown Fen to mock environmental concerns at this important conference was a throwback to the early days of Ireland's industrialisation, trivialising a serious issue. Anyone who has read the 1993 Office of Public Works study entitled "The Impact of the Kildare By-pass on the Mid-Kildare Aquifer" would agree that not only is Pollardstown Fen in danger, but that the delays in responding to the dangers identified at the public enquiry in 1993 have been inexcusable.
The recommendation of the inspector at the public enquiry at that time was that the authorities should "immediately design and implement a monitoring programme that will allow them to properly evaluate the existing ground water conditions". In fact the first of the new bore-holes required for this monitoring was drilled in April, 1998 - five years after the inquiry - and a month after the European Commission entered the frame.
European intervention took place only because Pollardstown Fen is recognised as a Special Area of Conservation under the European Habitats Directive. The study by Professor Rushton commissioned by Kildare County Council this year to assist in its response to the Commission was restricted to a re-examination of the impact at this single location.
Kildare town is dramatically closer to the by-pass cutting than Pollardstown Fen. But the effects on the town itself - surely as important as any snail - were omitted from the scope of Professor Rushton's study.
The 1993 OPW report specifically warned of "insufficient reference" to "the impact on the foundations of buildings, roads and housing estates due to settlement or shrinkage", stating "these impacts have not been adequately discussed". In spite of this the effect of the reduction of the water table under Kildare town has not been evaluated to date. In fact, Kildare County Council was informed at last week's council meeting by the County Engineer that such fears were "way out" and "nonsensical".
As long as our most senior statesman set an example by openly scoffing at environmental concerns (be it snails, sand dunes, or the foundations of our towns) the "better balance" the Taoiseach spoke of in Killarney to facilitate a "faster way" for infra-structural developments sounds dangerously like a roughshod ride into the future. -Yours, etc., Tony Lowes,
Chairman, An Taisce Natural Environment Group, Tailors' Hall, Back Lane, Dublin 8.