Madam, – Brian Murphy of the National Development Finance Agency (November 16th) seeks to unseat my challenge to the prospect of private management of public debt – specifically, to the special purpose vehicle proposed by Minister for Finance Brian Lenihan for Nama.
Yes, he is correct that I can identify examples of fraud. Yes, this is based upon 16 years of involvement in PPPs. No, I do not seek to imply either of the alternative constructions he places upon my letter.
Yes, I have shared my research in this area: (a) since 2005, on at least six occasions with the Department of Finance, but to no obvious effect; (b) since the publication of the letter which exercises Brian Murphy, once with the State agency having closest responsibility to my examples; and (c) since August 2009, with any reader who cares to climb to the second floor of the University of Limerick library.
I regret not including the NDFA within this loop. But my experience, since PPPs were rushed into service in the National Development Plan 2000-2006, is that State agencies like Mr Murphy’s have just not wanted to listen. – Yours, etc,