Let’s prove all our patriots are not in their graves

WHEN an offence is committed the injured party needs an admission of guilt and an apology to enable him or her to forgive and move on.

The Government which facilitated an aggressive and unsustainable building boom owes an apology to the Irish people who elected the TDs to their responsible and privileged positions.

The ensuing problems are numerous – housing estates tagged on to unprepared towns and villages, often destroying their appearance while adding nothing to their communities because owners spend their valuable spare time commuting. Ribbon development and one-off housing increased car ownership and reduced access to public transport thereby contributing excessively to greenhouse gases which we were committed to reduce substantially through the Kyoto agreement.

The financial deficit caused by the collapse of that building splurge exacerbates the effects of the global recession on us. Indeed, there is much more to regret. Yes, we are seriously injured and wait to hear “tá brón orainn”. Recovery can only begin anew from where we are. We are forgiving, generous and intelligent people and can respond in a patriotic way – as we did in other times – if the necessary deprivations are shared by all with humility and unselfishness for the common good. We need to feel, we need to know, that undeserved bonuses for bosses, perks for politicians and expensive gratuities are relegated to history.

Transparency cultivates trust, and trust is of paramount importance. Because this is our country, our home, we can pray and work together for a renewed Ireland, green and clean, where disadvantage, crime and corruption are no longer part of our daily diet from the media.

Can we prove to ourselves and to the wider European community that all our patriots are not in their graves?

Lena Uí Dhubhghaill

An Gleanntán

Co Chorcaí