Chai Brady
The CEO of Trócaire has questioned Taoiseach Leo Varadkar’s seemingly contradictory approach to tackling climate change after he opened a renovated Mayo runway the day after a global climate strike.
Caoimhe de Barra’s comment comes as Mr Varadkar celebrated the projection passenger numbers to Knock airport would increase by 20%.
Ms de Barra posted on Twitter: “Commenting on the #ClimateStrike, Taoiseach Leo Varadkar says ‘we totally get the message’. I have to question that when in the same video he announces €9m Govt investment in Knock airport and a desire to see passenger numbers go up 20% to 1m.”
Regarding the CEO’s statement a Trócaire spokesperson said her comment “was simply highlighting the lack of coherence to government policy on climate change”.
“Notably, Pope Francis has called on all countries to urgently reduce carbon emissions but so far Ireland is still way off track for answering that call.”
Priests have defended the airport renovations saying it plays a vital role in connecting communities in the West of Ireland.
Rector of Knock Shrine, Fr Richard Gibbons, who is on the board and trustee of the airport along with Archbishop Michael Neary of Tuam, said it is a “key piece of infrastructure” in the West of Ireland.
The airport is “very conscious” of climate change, which comes up at board meetings and is “taken very seriously”, he said. However, he adds they are reliant on technology to create fuel-efficient planes, as well as fuel developed to be more environmentally friendly.
Fr Gibbons highlighted the need to provide services and opportunities in rural areas. He said: “Quite a number of people travel back and over to England and other destinations for work.
“Business relations between the West of Ireland and Britain are very important to people here and there’s quite a lot of movement that way. Family of course too, family visits – that connectivity.
“If you destroy an element of connectivity you reduce people’s chances of connecting and relationships…it’s very important to us here and to build-up rural communities.”
Fr Gerry O’Connor CsSR, based in Mahon in Cork, said that although change has to be made to lifestyles as “our common home is under threat” it shouldn’t just be poorer people and struggling communities bearing the burden.
He said when targeting climate change those who are less privileged shouldn’t become more disadvantaged “while certain elitist areas and certain professions and certain people dwell in elitist categories”.
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Goodwill gesture welcomed
The rector of Knock Shrine received “a very positive reaction” after a video went viral of him giving the Taoiseach a vial of holy water before his meeting with Boris Johnson.
Leo Varadkar was opening a refurbished runway at Knock airport when Fr Richard Gibbons handed over the gift. Fr Gibbons told the Taoiseach it was for “added protection” before he flew to New York to meet the British Prime Minister. Mr Varadkar quipped: “Do I throw it over him?”
The priest described it as “just a simple goodwill gesture” done in “good humour”.