Sir, – Diarmaid Ferriter (“Long-enduring democracy does not guarantee good government”, Opinion & Analysis, September 9th) refers to a “stagnant stability” and “long-term failures” since this State was founded 100 years ago.
Our first government, led by WT Cosgrave, faced an enormous £50 million cost of the Civil War while building the State’s new institutions. The State’s first public housing schemes got under way at Marino in Dublin, while the Shannon hydo-electric scheme at Ardnacrusha remains our largest infrastructure project ever, at 20 per cent of then national income.
Today, we have overcome widespread unemployment and poverty and rank among the best nations worldwide on the UN’s Human Development Index, encompassing health, education and living standards. Our social contract is bolstered by having the most progressive income tax system in Europe to redistribute income and support new public housing, welfare and public access to healthcare. Surely we have made some progress in 100 years. – Yours, etc,
Cllr DAVID McMANUS,
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Fine Gael Group Leader,
South Dublin
County Council,
Tallaght,
Dublin 24.
