Sir, - As an export agent for Irish engineering products and the former CEO of a major multinational in Ireland, now closed, I have first-hand knowledge of the competitive pressures faced by Irish companies. I view with alarm the present spate of wage and compensation claims by certain groups of public employees.
These groups are not looking for more money from the Government or the Departments of Education, Health, Justice, Transport or other bodies, but for more than a fair share of the tax take from every citizen of the State. They are quite happy to rob Peter to pay Paul.
I am particularly apprehensive, that these people, who have contributed the least to the present wealth of this nation, should use their perceived muscle and questionable productivity claims to achieve their objectives.
In a downturn, the same people will remain securely in employment and retain their level of pay while the people who created the upturn will be forced to take wage cuts or be put out of their jobs by competitive pressures.
It is therefore time to find a successor to Partnership 2000 which gives all citizens of Ireland a fair and equal share of the present prosperity and at the same time does not jeopardise the future competitiveness of the nation.
The past two years have shown, that the present series of successive agreements, which have been very successful up to now, are not suitable to achieve this new objective. I think the country would now be better served if the judgment on pay awards above the level of inflation and their duration would be given directly to the citizens of the State, who after all are the ultimate paymasters. Modern electronic communication systems make this quite possible. - Yours, etc.,
Detlef Becker, Shannon Lawn, Limerick.