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In our audit of the Dublin European election candidates, we asked candidates to answer questions on nine of the most pressing issues facing Ireland and Europe in the coming years.
Rita Harrold
Large agribusiness industry should be taken into democratic public ownership as part of a major plan to switch to a rapid transition to environmental sustainability.
Suppliers and farmers should be assisted and incentivised to shift from beef and dairy to more socially useful and sustainable farming and forestry. Society’s wealth and resources must be used to meet the needs of people and the environment, not the profits of a few.
Barry Andrews
CAP payments are the backbone of Irish farming, sustaining rural communities, ensuring food security, with payments making up around 75% of total Irish farm income.
The next CAP must further integrate and safeguard the family farm model of agriculture that places economic, environmental and socially sustainable farming at its heart.
Any reduction in CAP funding must be resisted as it would fundamentally undermine the sustainability of rural communities and lead to land abandonment.
Lynn Boylan
There is huge inequality in farm incomes and many small farmers are existing on ever decreasing income. The re-design of the Common Agricultural Policy post-2020 provides an opportunity to correct current imbalances and protect the family farm model and incentivise sustainable practices. The Irish government should also immediately re-open the organic farming scheme.
It is crazy that in the midst of the climate emergency that those farmers who want to go organic aren’t being supported. I would also want to see continued access to CAP funding for farmers in the North post-Brexit and environmental schemes within CAP to properly incentivise conservation, environmental protection and biodiversity.
Gary Gannon
Our agricultural policies must become more responsive to current and future challenges such as climate change – this means talking about how we can help agricultural businesses to reduce their carbon footprint, with a focus on small and medium farmers as part of a long-term commitment to the development of micro renewable energy.
The upcoming reform of the Common Agricultural Policy should focus on incentivising farmers to place a greater emphasis on environmental protections, climate and biodiversity. The funding model should ensure that smaller farmers are supported to a greater degree than under the current CAP.
Alex White
Environmental protection, water quality and reducing carbon emissions must be at the heart of EU agricultural policy.
I firmly believe the necessary decisions we take now will benefit the sector in the decades to come. Our way of producing and processing food will have to change. We need to face up to that reality now and change our agricultural policy to acknowledge that reality.
Clare Daly
We need to urgently move away from intensive, industrial-scale meat and dairy production. Such farming is both an ecological and climate disaster, and continuing to subsidise it is madness given the urgency of the biodiversity and climate issues we face.
The reformed CAP to be implemented after 2021 has been sold by the European Commission as a big step forward in ‘greening’ agriculture. But while it wants to give the impression of talking a good game, there’s little that’s actually solid in it in terms of climate action. There are no quantified climate targets, and the fact that objectives are vaguely defined is a massive problem (there are shades in this of the Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Bill in Ireland, and we’ve seen how completely ineffective that has been). There is nothing in the proposals that specifically addresses the huge environmental and health impacts of Europe’s intensive meat and dairy sector, which is incredible.
Clearly we need a CAP system that includes strong and concrete incentives for working in a climate and ecologically friendly way, that includes sanctions for failure to meet environmental and climate objectives, and that ends subsidies to factory farms and destructive intensive agriculture. We don’t have time for green-washing or tinkering around the edges, and that’s all we’ve seen coming out of Europe so far.
Ciarán Cuffe
I think CAP reform is a very big issue for the next European parliament. We’re saying we want to favour small farmers and move away from the industrialisation of farming.
Mark Durkan
Essentially, I would focus on having more schemes under Pillar 2 which deals with rural development and the future of CAP policy so that it is more directly about our climate objectives. Within that we would also need to continue to support farm investment to support the most vulnerable and disadvantaged farmers so that they don’t see the climate action change as being burdensome on them or disqualifying them from remaining in the sector.
Frances Fitzgerald
Farmers are a major contributor to our economy. However, we know that agriculture in Ireland is a major emitter of carbon. Therefore I would like to see the Common Agricultural Policy post-2020 become more sustainable and to offer incentives to farmers to make those fundamental changes in the their farming infrastructure, their methods of farming and the type of farming that they practice.
Alice Mary Higgins
If Brexit goes ahead, Irish agriculture will need significant support from EU institutions. However such resources should also be used to support Irish farming in making the significant changes necessary in terms of biodiversity and climate change.
Farmers need to be supported over the coming years as they will play an instrumental role in the transition to a low-carbon economy –I believe the next round of CAP funding will have to place a far greater emphasis on environmental stewardship, including supports to preserve land such as boglands and the removal of requirements for upland clearance. However in terms of biodiversity and emissions, the new CAP will want actual detail on things like species and soil quality. The damage done to birds, bees, and hedgerows under the Heritage Bill has been incredibly short-sighted in that regard.
I want our national pollinator plan to become statutory and I will be pushing for similar measures at EU level. Pollinators are also crucial for horticulture, high quality vegetable and fruit production is one direction Ireland should be moving in as our current over emphasis on beef is not sustainable in the long-term.
Mark Mullen
The Post 2020 re-design of the Common Agricultural Policy presents the opportunity to work intensively towards tackling the huge inequality in farming incomes. The recently declared climate emergency naturally dictates a need for encouraging organic and sustainable farming practices, therefore we must also re-open the organic farming scheme to encourage climate responsible farming adoption.
I would look to push that the CAP budget is not reduced for 2021-2027 as a reduction would impact the income and livelihoods of small to medium-sized farmers and their families in Ireland. More attention needs to be given to ensuring that farmers in developing countries are provided with adequate support. They must be given access to supply European markets so that the trade is both equitable and fair.
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Nothing but a money making scheme, how many accidents have been on this stretch of road? Soon these ‘safety’ cameras will be generating millions, at the expense of the motorist, on every motorway in Ireland.
@Hugh Fogerty: not really. They work really well in the UK. 120kmph is more than enough for anyone to be doing on any road in Ireland. If you know you will end up with points and a fine you just won’t speed! Simple.
@Hugh Fogerty: If people stick to the limit, they won’t get fined. It’s that simple.
@Hugh Fogerty: Very easy way to throw a spanner in the works of this money making scheme.
@Hugh Fogerty: you probably think taxation is theft too, yeah?
@Hugh Fogerty: If you’re thick enough to get penalty points on this stretch of motorway, and it’s very clearly indicated that it’s an average-speed zone, then you deserve to be fined and get penalty points.
@Hugh Fogerty: you don’t have much faith in the intelligence levels of Irish motorists do you? Only way this will generate money is if people speed.
@Hugh Fogerty: why would you need to go any faster than the speed limit? Standard of driving in this country is appalling.
@Edward Reid: vast majority of motorways in Europe are 130km/h… 120 would be low compared
@Hugh Fogerty: only the BMW and Mercedes drivers need worry.
@Hugh Fogerty: Quite a lot actually it is a spot that, quite a lot of rain water stays on because it was built on a bog and has been a lot of accidents with aquaplaning.
@Paul Furey: You can add Audi to that list as well.
@Brendan Nolan: quite a lot is an interesting quantum, not sure if I said not very much would that be as big a number? Without actual figures it’s all conjecture. I’ve never seen an accident on that stretch of road.
@Brendan Nolan: so what you are saying is that stretch of road was badly engineered?
@Saigionsive: taxation is theft when it’s not used for what it was intended.
@Hugh Fogerty: every day there are accidents on these roads. I don’t think speed is the problem though so this figure won’t change.
If compliance was below 70% on a road, would one not think to assess if the 120kph limit was still correct? Maybe that was a sign 130kph or higher would be suited.
* fixed comment – give me edit!
@Richard: I’m not sure. If you give more people end up taking more. They would push to 140/150 if the legal limit was 130. I think the majority of people stick to 120 as it is, only some people think they should be allowed to do as they wish whether or not it puts anyone else in danger or not. I’m all for each to their own but if you cause an accident just because your a macho man showing of or whatever the reason and it killed my family or kids it changes the situation. Slow down, enough families have suffered already.
@Richard: We need to start reducing speed limits.
Fuel consumption at 130 km/HR would be much higher than say 100km/HR..
Electric cars are not suited to high speed as they have huge battery consumption above 100 km/ HR.
@Roger Bond: that should be a person own personal choice and use of money to spend it burning fuel or reducing their electric range. 130km in most European countries as the norm on motorways
@Richard: What’s the point? Driving at 130kph instead of 120 saves you about 24 seconds on a 10km journey. Are we really in that much of a hurry that it’s worth the increased danger and fuel consumption? If we say Limerick to Dublin is about 200km which is a long journey in Ireland, that’s just 8 mins knocked off the entire journey! And that’s assuming a direct motorway with no slow-downs or stops. Each increase above that gives you less and less saving on time.
@Roger Bond: that’s why you should not buy toy cars.
Another nanny state intervention. “if you get to the next camera too quickly you will be flagged on our server.” How about people just follow the safety rules? Seems that the government has taken over the church for “rule following” and being forced into submission.
How about free will, trusting people to do the right thing and give them a ticket if they are caught speeding by a Garda officer?
@Seeking Truth: its more simple than this tbh.
It was simply put in to make money.
None of them gives a flying f… about people.
@John Johnes: Seems to be a way to let people decide if they want to throw money away. The average speed zone will be well flagged on approach.
@Seeking Truth: the issue with that is that not every person speeding is caught by a speed camera van, as there simply aren’t enough of them in place at each location. I think this new system will be a positive one in that it still gives people the option to speed, or not, while guaranteeing that they are caught if they do. Their choice, with consequences for the wrong one.
@Seeking Truth: so if you think this is a nanny state should we drop health and safety in the workplace and let the ordinary worker set the the standards or have none and more deaths. Should we not have regulations for electrical devices and import potential fire hazards from every country in a race to the bottom.
@Seeking Truth: Because, left to their own ‘free will’, a lot of people behave badly.
@Seeking Truth: we’ll they have being allowing people the choice till this morning, the result has been 6 deaths and 54 serious accidents on this particular stretch of road so if given some people haven’t kept to the speed limit they have opted to enforce the speed limit. I don’t understand the issue here, what is the issue with keeping to the 120 limit? Are you so important and or in such a rush that speed limits don’t apply to you?
@Peter: is that in the past week? That’s quite a lot tbf.
Do you have a source for those numbers? We’re they in dry conditions or other conditions?
Personally I think the speed limit should be variable, higher in dry weather and low traffic volumes, lower in bad weather and or high traffic volumes. We have regional roads that used to be safe for 60mph with older less safe cars yet we are now told we have to drive 80kph on them now. Its not about safety it’s about revenue generation.
As cars are being made safer and faster we’re lowering limits, doesn’t make sense, speed limit should be raised to 140 on major motorways in the right hand lane anyway
@pkunzip doom2.zip: at 110 KPH versus 120 KPH I get an extra 10% more kilometers from my tank of diesel. That saves around 11.00 euro per fill.
@pkunzip doom2.zip: if I set my speed limiter to 110 KPH versus 120 KPH I get an extra 10% distance. At current diesel prices that is a saving of €11.00 per fill.
@Rudy de Groot: that’s great for you, well done. When I drive my leaf at 115km I get 250km from a €6.40 charge but when I want to overtake some dckhead in a leaf doing 115km and I’m in my Golf I don’t want to 3 points for driving safely, well within the car and drivers capabilities
@Rudy de Groot: you’d get even more out of your tank if you drove at 80kph
@Anthony Guinnessy: not everyone is concerned about their mileage as you seem to be, if you drive at 80km/h on a motorway you deserve a fine for dangerous driving
Can these camera be used to catch drivers that do not Indicate when overtaking and undertaking ??
@lorcmulv: the answer is in their name!
@lorcmulv: and the roundabouts. In a normal world – whoever does not use their indicators are being fined.
If compliance was below 70% on a road, would one. It think you assess if the 120kph limit was still correct? Maybe that was a sign 130kph or higher would be suited.
just as well my old van wont go over 120km
It’s about time these got rolled out, they need to be put on every stretch of motorway in the country along with variable speed limits. Both have been proven to work for reducing accidents and deaths and traffic flow. If people are driving as per the rules of the road then they have nothing to worry about. For those saying it’s a money making racket I would say they are the very people that are being targeted, not to make money from them but to change the way they drive so they are complying with the posted speed limits.
@Peter: why then are most motorway speed limits higher in Europe? Ever heard of the auto bahn? “Measurements from the German state of Brandenburg in 2006 showed average speeds of 142 km/h (88 mph) on a 6-lane section of autobahn in free-flowing conditions.[3]”
^^ thats a proper road network and just as safe as ours.
I find if I put my speed limiter to 110 KPH I get an extra 10% from my tank of diesel. Considering the cost of fuel it makes sense to reduce speed and save money (and be kinder to the environment too)
@Rudy de Groot: I’d say you’ll find if you put your speed limiter to 80kph you’ll save even more. What’s your point?
Have we invested anything in preventing drivers from travelling in the wrong direction on this motorway?
Ireland catching up with the rest of Europe.
@FliepFlap: Ireland falling further behind the rest of Europe. Safer cars, better roads should mean higher speed limits.
Drove it this morning, main issue was drivers in the overtaking lane doing 120, makes it difficult when you come up behind a slow vehicle and cant pass for the queue of cars cruising in the overtaking lane.
Then once past the second camera off they are like rockets…
If there was a bit of dirt causing the number plate reader to record an 8 or 9 out of a 3 or perhaps a 7 out of a 1 there will be no actual photo of the car showing the make, model and colour of the vehicle so you could not dispute the alleged offence. Normally you are innocent until proven guilty. With this system you are guilty…full stop.
Good grief, the amount of whinging here on this Monday morning. Don’t speed! I do a lot of motorway driving and get over 200km extra on a full tank by driving 95-100kmh on the motorways. It means an extra 10 to 15 mins on a drive from Dublin to Kilkenny but its worth it.
@Paul Furey: no its not, an extra 16 minutes a day each way would be 24hrs extra a year (conservatively). That’s 3 working days you’re giving up per year. Over a lifetime you are losing 147 working days.
@Anthony Guinnessy: what a waste of sums. Leave earlier.
We know where they are hit cruise control at 118 kmph then away u go
@James Johnson: all cars are 4-5km overstated so 124 and you’d be doing 120
Be warned if passing these at night they shine a light across the motorway that’s absolutely blinding
Years and years behind…
It’s a step in the right direction, but it’s too little too late considering these have been around for years in other countries. Motorways are built for speed. How many deaths actually occur on them? Meanwhile the technology exists to measure your speed wherever you go! Most runners have watches that give all sorts of statistics about your run. Put one of these on every car that reports safe driving back to a central server. Compliant people get a discount on their car insurance. The discount is paid for by the reduction in claims this will no doubt bring about. If you frame it as a bonus for being safe rather than a fine for speeding you’ll get much better buy-in.
What about teleportation.?
Why must everyone else slow down just because of a minority of people who can’t drive properly?
I’m sure they’ll be really useful on the M50.
What happens if you drive too slow, surely the concertina effect is equally the same as too fast but slightly more dangerous e.g overtaking.
have your say