DERMOT C CLARKE,
Madam, - Congratulations on Frank Miller's memorable photograph in last Saturday's edition of the regiment of tractors in Merrion Square and also for the explanatory articles during the week.
I would suggest, however, that the explanations do not go back as far as they might. Twenty years ago Greens here and in other EC countries argued that, if the Community aim was to encourage farming families to remain on their farms and nurture their land, a basic income for each member of the family would be a better system than income support based on production.
We have seen how the CAP has resulted in over-stocking of sheep, dumping of meat in third-world countries, undercutting local markets, excessive use of fertilisers, and now this crisis. Roger Garland put the contrast neatly when he proposed "headage for people instead of headage for cattle". - Yours, etc.,
MÁIRE MULLARNEY,
Rathfarnham,
Dublin 14.
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Madam, - The farmers of Ireland gave us a wonderful glimpse of economic prosperity. Should they carry out their long threat of getting out of farming altogether, just think of the savings in subsidies, hand-outs, compensations, levies, etc. that will no longer crucify the taxpayers. Also, think of all that imported food which will cost so much less than any produced here. - Yours, etc.,
DERMOT C CLARKE,
Wilson Road,
Mount Merrion,
Co Dublin.
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Madam, - If Mr Sean Ardagh TD is so concerned about the disruption caused by farmers in Dublin, perhaps he should consider how we peasants feel when villages such as Enniscrone and Courtown are gridlocked with D-reg Mercs from their tax-break holiday homes .
The farmers came to Dublin because they have too little The Dubs come down here because they have too much. - Yours, etc.,
MERVYN GAWLEY,
Enniscrone,
Co Sligo.
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Madam, - Farmers feed our bodies; teachers nourish our minds. Farmers get paid lots of money for doing nothing; now teachers want the same.
'Tis a quare world we live in! - Yours, etc.,
PAUL KILCULLEN,
Laurleen,
Stillorgan,
Co Dublin.