Sir, - Is Ireland consciously aiming to be the environmental pariah of the EU? In the past two years there have been two "flagship" initiatives by the union. The first was to introduce a coherent approach to water management and river basin planning, including adoption of the "polluter pays" principle. Ireland opposed this because it would eventually result in households paying for water and for the associated waste treatment. We succeeded in weakening the proposals very substantially.
The second initiative was to harmonise the minimum excise duties payable on energy products; this would involve an increase in fuel prices, and is regarded as a small but important step in slowing the growth in fuel use, and helping to finance alternatives. We and Spain are alone in opposing this measure (according to Patrick Smyth's article in The Irish Times, May 26th) and we could succeed in killing it off completely, because fiscal measures require unanimity.
We're strong on green rhetoric, but whenever any sacrifice is entailed, we run a mile. That is the impression we now convey to our partners in the EU and to the Commission and Parliament. Is this sensible? We think not. - Yours, etc.,
Frank J Convery, Dargle Road, Blackrock, Co Dublin.
Sue Scott, Wellington Road, Dublin 4.