Madam, - Could this be a pattern? First John O'Donoghue (July 21st) and now John Curran (August 2nd), both launching attacks on Pat Rabbitte on the basis of grossly false statements about Labour's economic policies.
Is this the Fianna Fáil strategy between now and the next general election?
For the record: Ruairi Quinn as Finance Minister and Pat Rabbitte as Minister of State for Enterprise and Employment agreed the 12.5 per cent Corporation Tax, and the party is committed to its retention. Pat Rabbitte was never an opponent of social partnership. In fact, the Rainbow Government broadened and strengthened the partnership process.
At the last election, Labour most emphatically did not propose borrowing for current spending, but rather borrowing for public investment in line with the golden rule of public finance, subject to clearly defined limits. Our economic projections forecast a nominal increase in the stock of debt, with the debt/GNP ratio remaining constant.
By all means John Curran should revisit party manifestos from the last election. In Fianna Fáil's, he will find a litany of grandiose promises ranging from additional billions to implement the health strategy to 200,000 real medical cards, to an end to hospital waiting lists within two years (that has been achieved - the Government now refuses to publish the lists). Dozens of promises were made to the Irish people, with straight faces, and then dumped as soon as the election was over.
By all means examine Labour's record in office. Under Ruairi Quinn, GNP grew by an average of 8.2 per cent a year, compared with 5.7 per cent under Charlie McCreevy; inflation averaged 1.9 per cent compared with 3.5 per cent; and employment grew by 4.2 per cent compared with 4 per cent. By all means talk about tax, and the fact that more than half of those who pay tax do so at the 42 per cent rate.
By all means let's debate Labour's vision for a fair society, and our proposals on how to bridge the gap between Ireland's economic success and her social problems. But let's do it on the basis of fact.
It is commonplace for Fianna Fáil to issue hysterical, hyperbolic and untrue statements in the names of Ministers and backbenchers, some of whom don't know the contents before they are released. These are no substitute for real political debate. - Yours, etc,
LIZ McMANUS TD, Deputy Leader, The Labour Party, Leinster House, Dublin 2.