Sir, – The Irish Times leader on Dublin Airport refers to three main parties involved: the DAA, the residents of Finglas and the owners of a nearby piece of land, suited for development, who are apparently seeking €200 million (“A third terminal on the horizon”, October 25th).
However, there are other significant “actors” whose interests should be taken into account when considering expansion of air travel.
Planet Earth is in an advanced stage of irreversible decline because of climate change, caused in no small part by carbon dioxide emissions from air transport.
The populations of almost all countries are severely affected by increasing emissions, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa through drought and unpredictable weather patterns leading to severe food shortages.
Non-flying, or unwilling, Irish people must, through their taxes, contribute to the massive subsidies provided to the airline industry by the Government in respect of fuel costs, thus fuelling the “expansion” of the industry. It is long past time where questions of proposed airport expansion can be considered in a meaningful and responsible way in isolation from our responsibilities under, for example, the Paris agreement.
There were probably 100,000 international flights taken by Irish rugby fans alone during the recent series. If I travel by car to Donegal to see a football game, I receive no subsidy on the cost of the fuel, but if I fly to Paris for similar reasons, adding to an already large carbon footprint, I do.
Something doesn’t seem right. If air fares fairly reflected the unsubsidised fuel costs of passengers per flight, then fewer journeys would be taken, resulting in a reduction of emissions and, perhaps, the “need” for expansion at the airport might be obviated.
The vital environmental needs of our planet should not be trumped by the so described “economic imperative for regular, reliable air access to our island”. – Yours, etc,
PAUL O’SHEA,
Shankill,
Dublin 18.