They popped up everywhere across Europe, particularly in Germany and London. In Ireland, the project was one of more than 500 in 11 counties funded as part of a €55m National Transport Authority (NTA) stimulus package in response to the pandemic. The technology is designed to filter the air and absorb the toxic pollutant called particulate matter. They also have in-built sensors to collate air quality data for analysis.

But now one of the country’s leading scientists, who had been sceptical from the start, says the machines should be scrapped if air quality improvement claims cannot be verified. UCC emeritus professor of chemistry John Sodeau says their introduction has been a potential waste of funds. Planting hedges or enforcing the ban on private cars along Cork’s main street would have had a more immediate impact.

Fianna Fáil councillor Colm Kelleher, who officially unveiled the devices during his term as lord mayor, said it was time to pull the plug on them.

“In the absence of any data to show if these things are doing any good, I think it’s time to just plug them out,” he said.

No doubt the data will eventually emerge which will prove or disprove the value of this initiative, but this story points to a broader warning that very hard-pressed taxpayers are unlikely to have much sympathy for schemes that hit them in the pocket in the name of environmental improvement, if they are shown to produce little tangible benefit.

As we report today, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) ranks air quality in Ireland as “generally good compared to our neighbours” but we fail to meet World Health Organisation yardsticks in particulate matter, due mainly to the burning of solid fuel in our towns and villages and traffic in our cities.

Improving our performance in this area will require changes that would be politically uncomfortable. Look at the outrage caused last year by the ban on selling turf. We know cars are a major factor in our emissions and Cork City Council should be commended for banning cars from parts of the city on Saturday, but the EPA report also sets out why there is valid opposition to measures such as car-free days and ‘smoky fuel’ bans in parts of society.

The report recommends an increase in investment in clean public transport infrastructure across the country and more safe footpaths and cycle lanes to allow for a viable alternative to car use. It also calls for local authorities to get resources to increase air enforcement activities.

In short, if I can’t access the city without my car, why ban me from driving it? And if people aren’t punished for flouting the rules on burning smoky fuels, why the ban?

As our politicians grapple with these subjects they will find that policies will require far greater investment, but also the consent of the electorate.

Rugby World Cup

After all that confusing stuff about the merits of a 7-1 bench split versus a traditional Irish 5-3, it was left to the wearers of the green jersey to emerge with an epic victory after a ground-shaking, adrenaline-filled encounter in Paris.

While the victory makes it more likely that we shall meet the All Blacks in the knock-outs, we must remember that watchword from Verdun, fought 250 km east of the battlefield of St Denis 107 years ago: “They shall not pass.”

Given the success of the rendition of ‘Zombie’ by The Cranberries at the end of the match, is it too early to be planning the rest of the musical accompaniment? Saving ‘Nothing Compares 2U’ for the final, obviously.