Heathrow Airport plan offers ‘open goal’ for Ireland

Every now and then an open goal occurs. The term comes from sport and refers to an empty goalmouth with a missing goalkeeper. In such a situation a ball can be placed in the net without interference.

The UK Government has presented Ireland with an open goal over the past week. This is not a normal goal. In fact the post has been widened, the bar has been raised and the penalty spot has been moved over a metre closer to the goal line. Only an idiot could miss in these circumstances.

The open goal I refer to relates to Heathrow Airport. The Government in Britain has opted to support a third runway at that airport which lies relatively close to the west side of the city and is in the heart of a highly populated area.