Sir, – Dermot Desmond’s claim that AI will render MetroLink obsolete ignores the reality that traffic congestion already costs the Dublin economy over €336 million annually, rising to €1.5 billion per year by 2040 (“AI will make Dublin’s MetroLink obsolete,” says Dermot Desmond, August 5th).
Congestion isn’t typically caused by parked cars, but by vehicles using roads at the same time.
Self-driving cars won’t solve that problem as they will still take up the same road space as existing vehicles. Meanwhile, Ryanair’s Michael O’Leary’s fanciful proposal that we should cancel MetroLink in favour of building a new motorway in the Irish Sea would also surely find itself to be expensive and highly congested on whatever day in 2045 or 2050 it would open.
What does work is the high-capacity public transport solutions in use all across the world, including in Ireland, such as electrified suburban rail (Dart, Luas, MetroLink), combined with segregated cycling lanes and walking tracks and greenways.
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These are systems that move thousands efficiently, reduce emissions, and make urban spaces more liveable. We have the plans now. Let’s get on with implementing them without further delay. – Yours, etc,
ROSS Ó CURRÁIN,
Drumcondra,
Dublin 9.
Sir, – What is it about Irish billionaires/multi-millionaires and MetroLink, and with our eagerness to listen to their “pearls of wisdom”? First Michael O’Leary’s rant and now Dermot Desmond, with his outlandish claims that self-driving cars will make public transport redundant.
Setting aside the serious safety concerns with autonomous vehicles, especially in urban areas, we would do well to learn from the experience of Uber and other rideshare platforms which made similar claims about congestion reduction.
Study after study has shown that they in fact increased congestion in cities where they operated and had almost no impact on car ownership. Any privately operated AI-driven autonomous vehicle service will have the same commercial pressures to increase car dependency.
I do, however, share Mr Desmond’s optimism about the possibility of significant reductions in car ownership. This will be achieved, not through futuristic technology, but by investing in our public transport and active travel infrastructure which will make cars redundant in our cities. – Yours, etc,
CIARÁN FERRIE,
Rathmines,
Dublin 6.
Sir, – I must keep an eye out for Dermot Desmond the next time I’m waiting for the Luas. – Yours, etc,
HELEN PEAKIN,
Terenure,
Dublin 6W.
Sir, – Why does The Irish Times continue to publish the opinions of billionaires about public transport projects?
When was the last time Denis Desmond took a train? He tells us that self-driving cars will mean there are fewer cars on the road, and thus no need for the Metro.
Even a brief moment of introspection will show this to be the opposite of the case. Self-driving cars will likely spend more time on the road as they cruise around looking to pick up passengers, just as taxis do today.
Would car manufacturers really be investing in AI if they thought it would result in fewer car sales?
AI will likely make Dublin’s traffic much worse, not better. It will be the same the world over. China, no laggard on AI, is massively expanding its public transport system in the coming years. Dublin absolutely does need a metro. – Yours, etc,
Dr MARK SUGRUE,
Donaghmede,
Dublin 13.
Sir, – I have just read the report about Dermot Desmond and the proposed metro system. The newspaper recently has seen an onslaught of articles against MetroLink and improvements to the public realm, led by contributors such as Frank McDonald and Michael McDowell.
Is there any space to be had for progressives in the newspaper? The arguments currently being used against the metro we have seen before. The Dart would cost too much, nobody would use the Luas. Nobody now would seriously suggest we dismantle either rail system.
The same will be true of the MetroLink when it too is built. It is never going to be cheaper to build the metro than now, it is never more needed than it is now.
Let’s stop the propagation of fantasy arguments and promote a positive vision of MetroLink. – Yours, etc,
ADAM LADD,
Drimnagh,
Dublin 12.
Sir, – It is reasonable to expect that southside residents wanting to use the metro to go to the airport will have luggage with them. But how are they to get to the St Stephen’s Green station with that luggage?
Luas and buses are not able to accommodate luggage, and it is unlikely that a sufficient park and ride could be offered in that area.
The metro would therefore be useless for airport access for a huge number of potential travellers.
This problem needs a solution before we spend any of the billions proposed. We don’t need a white elephant. – Yours, etc,
DAVID O’HIGGINS
Stillorgan,
Co Dublin.
Slim chance
Sir, – I read with interest how the availability of GLP-1 medications has rung the death knell for the body positivity movement (“Body positivity fell from favour as soon as Ozempic brought thinness back,” August 4th).
Any chance someone will invent an Ozempic to help slim down the size of and curtail the appetite for SUVs on our roads? – Yours, etc,
ULTAN Ó BROIN,
Blackrock,
Co Dublin.
Abortion data collection
Sir, – It was recently reported that the HSE will be rolling out a pilot scheme in some hospitals to collect more data and information on abortion in Ireland (“More detailed data on abortions to be collected from Irish hospitals,” August 5th).
This is welcome, as Irish data collection for abortion has proven inaccurate and unsatisfactory, in contrast with other jurisdictions.
For example, the total number of abortion notifications received by the Department of Health for 2021 was just 4,577. But according to a supplementary memo, the department acknowledged this figure fails to tally with the total number of abortions actually performed. Instead, it estimated, based on the total number of reimbursements for abortion paid to GPs in 2021, that the figure is likely closer to 6,700.
In addition to inadequately completed notifications returns, the limited data sought in the forms leaves much to be desired as it only provides the total number of abortions performed by month and county.
This excluded collecting data such as age, gravidity, and gestational age. Knowing this information is important to inform the public about the scale and nature of abortion in Ireland, but also to allow researchers and policymakers to identify trends.
When the Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Act 2018 was being drafted in autumn 2018 after the referendum in the same year, an amendment to the legislation was tabled which would have ensured that such comprehensive data was included in the notifications form.
The amendment sought the same data as that collected in the English HSA4 form. But the government of the day rejected this motion outright, instead opting for limited data collection. Had that amendment been taken on board at the time, we would have a far clearer picture of the trends and realities of abortion in Ireland.
While it is welcome that the HSE has recognised the importance of comprehensive and accurate data collection, this should have been a key component of abortion policy since the law became operational seven years ago. – Yours, etc,
EILÍS MULROY,
Pro Life Campaign
Dublin 2.
Sunny disposition
Sir, – Concerning falling birth rates, Breda O’Brien contrasts five European countries where the decline is not so steep (Denmark, France, Germany, Sweden and Britain) with four which are rock bottom (Greece, Italy, Portugal and Spain) (“Let’s stop glorifying motherhood and glorify parenthood instead,” August 2nd).
Could sunshine have something to do with it? – Yours, etc,
SADHBH Ní SEACHNASAIGH,
Galway.
Gaza and showing compassion
Sir, – Fintan O’Toole’s latest article on events in Gaza is a lesson in what real journalism can and should achieve.
It sits as a reminder to others that there is no such thing as “silly season” when it comes to informing and educating the public.
The homeless remain homeless, the poor remain poor, and the victims of war continue to suffer no matter the season.
O’Toole’s compassion and erudition is a beacon in a sea of mediocrity and long may he continue in his quest. – Yours, etc,
PAUL GRAY,
Drumcondra,
Dublin 9.
Sir, – Una Mullally is right: the passing of the Occupied Territories Bill by the Irish Government could well be a catalyst for a global boycott, divestment, and sanctioning of Israel (“Ireland can be a beacon with the Occupied Territories Bill,” August 4th).
As Israeli prime minister Binyamin Netanyahu considers a full takeover of the Gaza Strip and the starvation and killing continues, this legislation should be expedited as a matter of urgency – and it should include services (as recommended by the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade).
In this context, the Dáil and Seanad should be recalled during the summer recess for an emergency session to pass this legislation – which could coincide with a national day of protest, as suggested by a previous letter writer.
Importantly, a national day of protest combined with legislative action in Leinster House on the same day should be accompanied by politicians and the public alike calling on Hamas to release all the hostages, to disarm, and to disband.
The time for decisive moral leadership and action is now. – Yours, etc,
CHRIS FITZPATRICK,
Terenure,
Dublin 6.
Sir, – I agree with Diarmuid Ó Cinnéide (Letters, August 5th) that the publication of pictures of starving and emaciated children is both gut-churning and traumatising.
However, these distressing pictures have dramatically served to increase the public and political outcry as to the urgent need for an end to these horrific conflicts. – Yours, etc.
JOSEPH TUMMON,
Circular Road,
Galway
.
Looking busy
Sir, – Greg Maxwell’s letter (August 2nd) on the matter of “The look of looking busy” and the experience of the late Sam McAughtry reminds me of my own experience many years ago, coincidently again in the Department of Agriculture but here in Dublin. I was assigned early in my civil service career to the minister’s office and during the day, made a point of dutifully clearing my desk and ensuring that all files and correspondence were dealt with .
On one of these days, the deputy secretary general of the department stopped, looked at my pristine desk, and his advice was: “Never sit at an empty desk, always have a significant number of files at hand, at least two open, and avoid looking up or interrupting your close scrutiny of all these documents.”
I took his advice but I doubt if my career blossomed to the same extent as Sam’s. – Yours, etc,
MARTIN McDONALD,
Terenure,
Dublin 12.
Speeding motorists
Sir, – Travelling to Donegal from Dublin and back again over the weekend I was amazed at the complete disregard by a very large number of my fellow motorists for the speed limit on our roads.
Each time I went over the speed limit by two or three kilometres my car emitted a reminder to inform me of my transgression.
As I slowed down to the appropriate kilometres per hour I was on each occasion overtaken by several cars travelling at a much greater speed. – Yours, etc,
MARY DALY,
Rathfarnham,
Dublin.
Protecting the red fox
Sir, – I commend to all, John Fitzgerald’s excellent letter “Protecting the fox”, August 5th.
Ireland, due to its geography, has a dearth of natural fauna and is fortunate to have foxes, a beautiful and intelligent animal, which has sadly been persecuted in the past.
Urban dwellers are now favoured by the presence of these animals, giving children the opportunity to observe nature close up.
Foxes also do much to keep rats under control and contrary to ill-informed prejudice do not spread of disease.
We should admire and protect our fine red foxes. – Yours, etc,
Dr D O’BRIEN,
Rathfarnham,
Dublin 14.
Sir, – While I share John Fitzgerald’s opposition to hunting foxes with dogs I do not agree with his assertion that: “The hound is not a natural enemy of the fox. Both are dogs. Hence, the need to train novice hounds to hunt foxes from an early age.”
I have owned dogs of various shapes and sizes for many years and found that they, unfortunately, required no training at all to chase after foxes; in fact it would have required some intensive training to stop them from doing so.
While foxes and domestic dogs are from the same family of mammals, their evolutionary paths diverged millions of years ago. – Yours, etc,
KATHERINE QUIRKE,
Dún Laoghaire,
Co Dublin.
Supermarkets and food recalls
Sir, – It appears that the supermarkets are keeping a low profile in relation to the listeria infection.
While I do not have a loyalty card, I, nonetheless handed back my suspect chicken jalfrezi to the customer services desk of my local Tesco and was refunded the ¤4.25 in cash without question. – Yours, etc,
TONY CORCORAN,
Dublin 14.
Front gardens
Sir, – Louisa Moss draws attention to the environmental dangers involved in building small homes in back gardens (Letters, August 6th).
In recent years many front gardens in suburban areas have been replaced by cobble lock and tarmac, neither of which is permeable, thus leading to direct run-off and local flooding.
If houses are built in back gardens there will undoubtedly be an increased demand for car parking in front gardens with the consequent demise of the already threatened hedges, shrubs and small trees which contribute so much to urban biodiversity and help prevent flooded drains. – Yours, etc,
LOUIS O’FLAHERTY,
Dublin 9.
