Madam, – John O’Shea has done more than anyone in this country to raise awareness of the cost of corruption to the world’s poor. For this he deserves our gratitude. However, in calling for an end to funding for “corrupt regimes” (February 4th) Mr O’Shea, like other commentators, fails to address a number of important questions.
Are all Irish Aid programme and partner countries endemically corrupt? Can he point to where the greatest corruption risks lie? Will delivery of aid by NGOs alone fight corruption and poverty? Is the Irish Government doing enough to fight corruption and tax evasion in the developing world? Does the Government have a coherent domestic and international anti-corruption plan? Will simply cutting the aid budget help fight corruption and deliver aid to those who need it most?
I believe the answer to all of the above questions is “no”, but I am open to correction. – Yours, etc,
JOHN DEVITT,
Chief Executive,
Transparency International,
School of Business,
Trinity College, Dublin 2 .