Sir, - I refer to an Irish Times of July 29th and a subsequent letter of July 31st from Sean McHugh, both of which implied a letter written by Father Peter McVerry had angered social workers. I would like to exclude myself from any such general denunciation.
I believe Peter McVerry has shown great commitment and persistence in highlighting the plight of homeless young people and has done this from outside the system. If, as Sean McHugh states, it is the system that is at fault then he must also be aware that the "system" incorporates not only the managers in the Department of Health and the Health Board, but also the staff who work the "system" (in this case social workers) and his union, i.e. IMPACT. I believe we should be open to critical evaluation of a service and not choose to take the high moral ground against a man who has given his life to helping homeless young people.
While everyone within the system may be defeated by its inadequacy it has been the voluntary agencies who have done most to highlight this. It would serve IMPACT better to work with Peter McVerry rather than itself propping up a dysfunctional service by continuously allowing its members operate such a "system". - Yours, etc.,
Michael Ryan, IMPACT member, Kincora Road, Clontarf, Dublin 3.