Sir, – On the new report of the expert Commission on Taxation and Welfare, Cliff Taylor is right to ask “why would you appoint a commission to write a report if you are going to dismiss a large part of its recommendations on day one?” (“Tax report conclusions present Paschal Donohoe with a tricky challenge”, Analysis, September 14th).
More importantly, why would any expert or citizen now serve on any commission or expert group when its report is likely to be dished before being read?
It’s bad enough that many expert group’s reports may gather dust on shelves but it’s extraordinary that both Taoiseach and Tánaiste are so quick to criticise a report by an expert, representative group, which they appointed and who worked in good faith, pro bono.
It is remarkable that the Tánaiste politicised the report by asserting that much of the recommendations were similar to Sinn Féin’s policies, implying they were too left-wing for Fine Gael.
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Yet Sinn Féin’s economic policies are both progressive and reactionary.
Taoiseach and Tánaiste need to reconsider their criticism of this report, publicly, unless they want only party hacks to serve on public advisory bodies. – Yours, etc,
PAUL SWEENEY,
Milltown,
Dublin 6.
