Madam, - Robin Wilson is correct (August 30th) in arguing that Labour's problem is its unwillingness to point to "another economic and social model for Ireland after the Celtic Tiger". This is an issue not just for Labour, but also for all the parties of the Irish left, including Sinn Féin and the Greens.
Vincent Browne's column, to which Robin Wilson refers, highlights the urgency of this task in terms of the deepening levels of inequality and socio-economic exclusion prevalent today.
However, Mr Wilson is mistaken in his belief that the wider European social democratic movement can provide solutions to these problems. Across the member-states of the EU, and within Brussels itself, social democratic parties are abandoning the gains made during the 1980s heyday of the Social Europe project, as shown by their support for the EU services directive and the re-packaged reform treaty.
With the election of Nicolas Sarkozy in France, one of the last bulwarks of the Social Europe project has been removed. Even in Scandinavia, the gains of decades of Nordic social democracy are daily being eroded.
There is a real need for serious, open and intelligent debate among all of the Irish left, taking account of events in Europe and the wider world, to address the issues outlined by Messrs Browne and Wilson. Recognising the inequalities of neo-liberalism and the limitations of social democracy must be our starting point. - Yours, etc,
EOIN Ó BROIN, Dún Laoghaire, Co Dublin.
Madam, - Robin Wilson sets out an articulate argument why the Labour Party should focus debate on Ireland's future toward other economic models than the Anglo-Saxon one which Fianna Fáil allowed the PDs to inflict on us.
However, as the general election results decisively proved, the Irish voter is still unable, or unwilling, to accept responsibility for the low quality of public representatives we have in Ireland, which in turn is reflected by the poor quality of government. One can't vote for Fianna Fáil on the basis of economic prosperity and then pretend that same vote will not be taken by Fianna Fáil as support for its sleaze, corruption and chronic mismanagement of government spending.
If the Irish voter is to accept there are other economic models which provide a secure economy and continued wealth, but which also underpin proper public services, accountable government and social equality, then the Labour Party will need to point out some unpleasant home truths to Irish voters. It will need to tackle the inbuilt assumption in every sector of Irish society that the only suitable comparison for public policy debate is the British model.
Public policy debates should be comparing Ireland with similar small countries such as Denmark, Iceland, Sweden, Finland, Norway, Portugal, New Zealand, Austria, the Netherlands, Belgium, the Czech Republic, Slovenia, Slovakia or Israel. There is no shortage of suitable countries. Why don't we aim to copy the best local government, housing, transport, health or recycling policies from those countries instead of always aping failed policies from the UK?
Unfortunately, I doubt if Eamon Gilmore, or any of the other possible leadership candidates, will have the guts to start such a debate and carry it through successfully. There are very powerful vested interests which benefit greatly from Ireland being as it is and will fight viciously to prevent people from having the type of social and economic equality which is the norm in other countries. - Yours, etc,
DESMOND FITZGERALD, Canary Wharf, London E14.