Sir, - "Partnership" is much in the news, and, of course, I am in favour of it. Who could be against it? But, as all the books on good relationships tell us, partnership is even-handed or nothing.
So is our partnership of such a desirable construction? It is, if job creation is the only criterion. If more is desired, it looks a lot shakier. The nurses' strike has been used to remind us that "real" take-home pay has increased by 35 per cent since the modern phase of "partnership" began. Real even-handedness would require that it also be pointed out that profits, professional fees, and distributed dividends have increased even faster.
But the taxation element of partnership has been successful, we are told. It has indeed, but for everyone, not just those who exercise "wage restraint". It would be easy to draw the conclusion that partnership means that while some carry most of the restraint, others get most of the benefits. And that excludes the illegal benefits which it appears were tolerated for many years!
I'm sure all this seems very negative. But how else does it look to a young person buying a house when they meet a builder on the present phase of a "development". Land is long purchased, planning is long ago in place, services are already up and running, costs have increased by perhaps seven or eight per cent. But the present phase is 50 per cent dearer than the first phase three years ago. No-one ever gives builders lectures about "partnership". Presumably that's because they wouldn't listen. What Charlie McCreevy would call living in the real world!
So come on, all you partners. Tell me exactly what sacrifices employers, builders, etc., made in this great partnership Ireland!
They could do a lot, you know. Like increase employers' PRSI to help fund our pensions bill: like funding for child care out of their "partnership" profits; like forgoing some of the inflated profits on their building activities; like funding infrastructural development, or education, or health care, or community projects.
You wish! - Yours, etc.,
Senator Brendan Ryan, Seanad Eireann, Baile Atha Cliath.