Madam, - It is good to see that John O'Shea (June 21st) shares the view of the 37 member organisations of Dóchas that development co-operation requires "maximum accountability so that we can ensure that aid is of maximum benefit to those who most require it".
Where we differ in view is in what conclusions to draw from that statement.
I don't think his recipe of "delivering" aid by bypassing African governments amounts to a coherent strategy to promote development, as it does in fact leave the problem of corruption untouched.
Development is not merely a matter of "delivering aid". Although the work of missionaries, NGOs and UN agencies can - and does - help, ultimately a country needs to develop itself. And for it to be able to do so, other factors such as trade and international investment are much more important than aid.
By dismissing African governments as corrupt we are ignoring this fundamental truth, and missing opportunities for effective action against corruption.
Rather than simply writing off all African governments, most Irish aid organisations would advocate putting in place effective mechanisms to hold those governments to account.
In fact, much of the Irish aid is already being used to strengthen independent media, parliaments and African organisations that fight corruption in their own countries and that monitor government expenditure.
This is no simple task, and there is no silver bullet in the fight against corruption.
But it would seem that, rather than being "hopelessly naive", this is exactly what is needed in the quest for "maximum accountability". - Yours, etc,
HANS ZOMER, Director, Dóchas, 12, Harcourt Street, Dublin 2.