Sir, - Drapier (11th December) refers to Ruairi Quinn and the Labour Party taking the lead from SIPTU on the treatment of the low paid in the Budget and its implications for social partnership. Obviously, Drapier missed both Derek McDowell and Pat Rabbitte predicting on RTE on Budget night that it would lead to difficulties for social partnership.
It is sickening to recall the numerous occasions on which Charlie McCreevy has championed social partnership. A Budget that leaves the poorest 10 per cent of Irish society proportionally gaining far less than the wealthiest 10 per cent is hardly evidence of a a genuine belief in social partnership and a desire to tackle social exclusion.
The Minister purported to be tackling social partnership but has, instead, displayed a firm commitment to social exclusion. - Yours, etc.,
Alan Sherry, Rivervalley, Swords, Co Dublin.