Sir, - With political improprieties and back-room bargaining vying for print space in our media, few can doubt the necessity for clear and open accountability from our elected representatives. Regular, timely, open reporting on various policies is one way to ensure such accountability.
Last year, the Government passed an Act through the Dail which, among other things, committed £7 million to the IMF's international lending programme, the Enhanced Structural Adjustment Programme (ESAF). This lending programme has been widely criticised because of evidence that the conditions attached to the loans increased poverty in poor countries. Indeed, even the new managing director of the IMF himself has expressed dissatisfaction with ESAF programmes.
When introducing its Act last year, our Government sought to allay widespread public and cross-party parliamentary opposition by making a commitment to publish an annual report on Ireland's involvement in the IMF and World Bank. The first report was due on March 31st last. It still has not appeared. With the Dail summer recess imminent at the end of this month, even if the report is produced soon, it will be October - seven months late of the due date - before parliamentarians will have a chance to debate its contents.
A three-month delay on an annual report makes a mockery of the reporting process and the accountable, democratic system it seeks to serve. More important than the taxpayers' money committed is its possible adverse effects on the lives of millions of the world's poor. Given this, the Government's report is of considerable import to us all. Does Mr McCreevy not agree? - Yours, etc.,
Niamh Gaynor, Chairperson, Debt and Development Coalition Ireland, All Hallows, Dublin 9.