Irish myopia
Sir: I agree with Richard West's view ('The Irish example', 11 August) that the ex- travagance and shortsightedness of Irish politicians have brought the Irish economy close to collapse. I held this view not merely now but in 1977 when Mr Jack Lynch's government embarked on the spending and tax-cutting programmes that have brought us to this pass. Unfortunately a different view was held at that time by a majority of the Irish electorate — and by at least one Englishman, Richard West!
If you consult your edition of 27 May 1978, you will see an article by Mr West in praise of Ireland' in which unqualified praise is lavished on those economic poli- cies he now so severely criticises. He ex- pressed astonishment at the affluence of the country but appeared ignorant of (or indifferent to) the fact that this wealth (or more correctly show of wealth) was paid
• for by heavy borrowing both at home and, more dangerously, abroad. He praised the decision to abolish rates and car tax but omitted to mention that neither reductions in spending nor increases in taxes were made to meet the costs of these reliefs. (The Irish budget was already heavily in deficit.) He reported admiringly on the low cost of health insurance without consider- ing the question: 'How do you get good health care at very low cost?' Answer: `You don't!'
The dangers inherent in these fatuous policies were already, at the date of Mr West's first article, known to anyone with any knowledge of the economic realities of the situation. Even the ministers who had introduced these policies were beginning to realise the peril of their position. But they took no remedial action because they realised that the people on whom they relied for re-election had no better judg- ment of economic matters than Mr West, and would not appreciate being informed that bills-incurred would, eventually, have to be paid.
Francis Rowan
224 Portmarnock Grove, Portmarnock, Co Dublin
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