A Chara, - In his ardfheis speech, Bertie Ahern made 53 extravagant promises costing €300 million a minute. Luckily, the speech lasted only 30 minutes. But how can we be sure any of the promises will be delivered?
At the last election Fianna Fáil promised: an end to the two-tier health system; average school class sizes of 20; at least 20 per cent of social and affordable housing in all building projects; a public-only hospital consultant contract; a reduction in tribunal lawyers' fees; opposition to the then feared attack on Iraq.
What we actually got was: more taxpayers' funds to private for-profit medicine, making health apartheid worse; class sizes still over 30; an opt-out for property developers; greedy consultants still dictating the health agenda; tribunal lawyers still getting €2,500 a day; facilitation of the disastrous Iraq invasion and "extraordinary rendition". Bertie Ahern also promised not to get into auction politics but then set out his stall for the biggest sale since the 1977 give-away which did so much damage to our economy for 20 years.
Maybe it is a good thing that the tax give-aways are unlikely to be implemented as the funds would be much better spent on our shambolic health and education services. - Is mise,
Cllr DESSIE ELLIS (SF), Dunsink Road, Finglas, Dublin 11.