Western People - 05-10-05
Listening to local communities

Sir – Why do things go wrong? What if government policy had engaged local communities in the formulation of coastal policy and adopted responsibility in local management practices. Would five men Michael Shine Willie Corduff, Philip McGrath, Vincent McGrath, and Brendan Philpin have ended up in jail?

If they had limited public responsibility for possible risks and damage and transferred responsibility to the direct beneficiaries and investors, things would have been different.

In the case of Cork Harbour, there are so many similar aspects ˆIspaat buying Irish Steel, for one old pound, plus its debts, suddenly going bankrupt (Owner still the richest man in England) leaving and costing the taxpayer over €30 million to clear up the harbour from pollution, but not before divesting themselves of a site where guess what – Indavar propose to built a Toxic incinerator, which will greatly affect human health.

What if they had incorporated risk aspects here and in Mayo into planning and investment policies assessing costs and consequences of different policy options? They would have raised public awareness, respect and understanding of the coastal environment, of both Cork Harbour and Mayo.

M. Bowen
Monkstown,
Co. Cork.