If there was ever a really cynical attempt at media manipulation, it was perpetrated by the National Road Authority's spokesman Michael Egan on RTE Radio last week, when he callously played the 'death' card in that organisation's game against farmers.
His insistance that farmers' actions in their pursuit of better compensation for compulsory purchase of their land for road-building could mean 60 more road deaths improved the chances of a successful negotiation with the farmers about as much as Israel's Ariel Sharon did to bring Israelis and Palestinians together.
I'm obviously on the side of better roads for the motorists of this island. But I'm not convinced that an NRA with the attitude it currently displays is the organisation that should be in charge of getting the groundwork done.
It seems already tainted with the kind of arrogance we've become accustomed to from the Governments of the Celtic Tiger. It seems to have become a quango determined to bulldoze its own kingdom out of semi-virgin land, funded by the largesse of the National Plan, at any cost.
The state wants a network of roads in place quickly, and the state agency given the responsibility to achieve this can make reputations if it spreads all the tarmacadam in the required time-frame.
So those wanting such reputations are aggressively pushing to get their bulldozers and tarmac-spreaders and bridge-builders working. Apparently - at least that is the perception we're getting - quite willing to steamroll over anybody in the way.
Of course, it could be that the NRA is cannon-fodder for a Government all too well aware of how tough farmers can become if they feel their backs are to the wall. And not willing to risk its departments of environment and finance in the front line of this particular battle.
But that's not an excuse for blaming farmers for road deaths that might or might not happen.
Real road deaths are too serious for that. As too many families can tragically testify to every year.
We need our motorway network. We'll eventually get it. But every time the spokesmen of the NRA and the farmers end up scrapping on the public airways, we're another day further from having safer roads to drive on.
So, NRA, stop trotting out Michael Egan to talk AT people out loud. And start talking TO them. Quietly. Lives depend on it.
©2001brianbyrne/IrishCar.Com
August 15 2001