That’s an unhealthy attitude from MEP Hayes

MEP Brian Hayes reverts to an old Fine Gael tactic when confronted by an opposing view, denigrate the dissenter. (“Transatlantic trade deal: EU needs a deal more than the US”, Irish Examiner May 16).

To sharpen his attack, Hayes also employs a Fine Gael favourite, create a little story about someone or other that was encountered and who was the beholder of a childish perspective on the issue. And just in case that falls short, he pigeon-holes concerned citizens labeling them, “keyboard warriors”.

The article was pathetic and childish for the simple reason that there are very genuine concerns about the appearance of genetically modified foodstuffs on the Irish market, not to mention beef produced in the US, because of the widespread use there of growth promoters, such as Zilmax and ractopamine which are banned in many countries, including China, Russia, and the European Union. To add to these concerns comes the news from the US that these food additives are showing up now in soil and water and also in human bodies.