Sir, Garret FitzGerald (March 30th) is not aware of support for greater freedom of entry for clothing from Third World countries to Ireland. He missed a campaign during 1993 by Comhlamh, the returned development workers association, to grant precisely this freedom. At present there is a discriminatory measure which prevents it called the Multifibre Arrangement. It is a derogation from international trade rules and was introduced on a temporary basis in 1974. Its abolition has been promised deadlines have been set and missed. The recent GATT agreement includes a commitment for the abolition of the MFA by 2005. Many people would be disappointed if Garret FitzGerald appeared to give comfort to those who oppose its demise.
When we ran the campaign we emphasised the benefits that would accrue to majority world countries if Ireland and our European partners removed this unfair discrimination against clothing imports. We argued that countries which can raise themselves out of poverty through trade should not be impeded by unfair rules imposed by richer countries. Majority world producers of clothing and other goods do not want to rely on our charity in the form of aid. Aid is discretionary; it can be, and often is, reduced or withdrawn. They would prefer to be fairly treated in trade matters.
A foreign policy based on narrow self interest is wrong if making Ireland richer means keeping most of the world in dire poverty. - Yours, etc.
Glounthaune, Co Cork.