Sir, - Dermot Ahern, Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs, may like to give the impression that he is a paternal, caring and responsible believer in social investment towards an inclusive society (July 3rd).
However, one need only experience the administration of social policy in the day to day running of his own Department and the Department of the Environment, Housing Section, to realise the emptiness of his words. The current "Action Programme" is deeply dangerous, especially with its aggressive policy towards people relying on social welfare - for various reasons. And social housing has been a national disgrace for decades.
Surpluses of money have not found their way into the pockets of those without houses or a decent basic income to survive in Ireland of 1999. So much could have been done to actually help people years ago, so I feel little confidence in Mr Ahern's promises as we move into the new millennium.
Perhaps there is a major Fianna Fail/PD "package for the poor" on the way, but at this stage few will believe that anything done now is for anyone else but the politicians' own self-interests in maintaining power over many thousands of hurt and damaged people. Most of that damage is directly due to lack of basic material needs.
People in politics seem to forget that such terms as "prudent financial management" is merely a mask for cutting off the right to life for those on all waiting lists. The only truly credible task to mark the new millennium would be to abolish all those lists and provide the actual requirements. - Yours, etc.,
Joan De Vere Jennings, Monkstown, Co Dublin.