DAVID HERMAN,
Madam, - Declan White (December 3rd), who laments the fact that we are losing our traditional right to use our own countryside, need not despair. As an alternative for walkers he mentions Britain, where there is mostly unrestricted access enshrined in law. He also has the choice of any of the several countries we have researched among our continental neighbours, where walkers have far more legal rights in the countryside than we have - which wouldn't be difficult since we have none.
This is undoubtedly something that many would-be walking tourists to Ireland will increasingly consider before they set foot here. And if present official attitudes continue, it is something Bord Fáilte and the Government will get round to considering only when this sector of the tourist industry is well on the way to ruin. - Yours, etc.,
DAVID HERMAN,
Keep Ireland Open,
Meadow Grove,
Dublin 16.