Sir, – We have all heard during the banking inquiry the effusive (and no doubt heart-felt) expressions of sorrow and regret from former bankers and politicians regarding the effects that the banking collapse has had on our nation.
Truly, the nation is sorry about it as well, but the populace didn’t cause the collapse. Being sorry is not the same as taking blame and apologising for one’s actions. One can be sorry and sympathise with another person’s (or nation’s) position but one doesn’t necessarily take any blame for their predicament.
But, nowhere have I heard an apology from these bankers and politicians for not just leading us to the brink of collapse but actually pushing us into the abyss.
Our political pundits, commentators and interviewers should press for outright apologies and not accept feeble utterances of sorrow. – Yours, etc,
DON TALLON
Moycullen
Co Galway.
Sir, – The late Garret FitzGerald noted in your paper that Charlie McCreevy increased Irish public spending by around 45 per cent in the space of three budgets from 1999 to 2001. From then on, our costs were excessive, and the only way the Irish economy could pay its bills was with unreliable taxes, largely based on property.
FitzGerald understood that in order to make good decisions it was essential to consider advice from experienced economists.
Sadly for Ireland, Charlie McCreevy believed ( and apparently still believes ) that his accountancy training somehow qualified him to understand the complexities of national economics. Similarly, Brian Cowen also believed his law degree gave him similar competencies.
Both dispensed with using economic advisors as had been used by finance ministers since the foundation of the State. If their arrogance (or ignorance ) had been restrained, the disaster which has befallen the Irish economy could have been averted.
Finance ministers must use qualified economic advisors unless we want to make the same mistakes again. – Yours, etc,
MARIE MOYNIHAN
Rathfarnham,
Dublin 14.