Madam, – With regard to Sarah Carey’s article (Opinion, April 7th), all politicians I know at Dáil or county council level seek to make decisions for the common good. I reject and advise against this current trend to denigrate our electoral system as it is considered by some as clientelist. I see considerable advantages in the voters having direct access to TDs and I reject this notion that it’s in order for politicians to meet businessmen, farmers, social partners or other pressure groups, provided the meetings are arranged by professional lobbyists but not in order for voters to visit TDs in constituency clinics.
My central point is in relation to the comments on 100 per cent mortgages. I was Minister of State with responsibility for housing in the period 2002-2007 and I repeatedly warned against the abuse of these mortgages since First Active launched them in summer 2005. My actions, including public statements, are a matter of record. There was considerable awareness in the Department of the Environment at the time of the inflationary dangers of these mortgages. Excess credit by definition is inflationary and it was obvious then and now that financial institutions giving 100 per cent mortgages did so in the hope, belief and expectation that the values of the properties would soon rise and protect their loans.
Unfortunately, my actions did not make the necessary impression on the financial institutions and agencies with a remit on same. My particular memories of that time are of the lack of interest and criticism by commentators of my efforts to speak against the “market” and the rising house prices.
Perhaps their editors, being aware of the huge profits being made by “Property Supplements” at the time made their interests known. Hindsight is a wonderful thing.
Ms Carey’s article must have come with Fine Gael press office approval. Her endorsement of Fine Gael is over the top if examined against the manifestos of 2002 and 2007 which she mentions.
We all give our views and opinions. Coming from those in opposition or in the media, such views and opinions can quickly and conveniently be forgotten. If from Government, they remain as the framework against which the future is judged.
NOEL AHERN, TD,
Dáil Éireann,
Dublin 2.