CCI warning on public expenditure

THE Chambers of Commerce of Ireland (CCI) is to carry out a systematic analysis of the manifestos of the political parties and circulate criticisms among their membership.

"We will not be endorsing any particular party but we will be making systematic criticisms and asking members to make their feelings known to candidates", said Mr Tom Kehoe.

Mr Kehoe was speaking after being elected president of the CCI at the organisation's annual general meeting in Westport. The CCI has 8,500 member companies and 58 affiliated chambers.

Questions on "core business positions" are being put to the parties and the answers are being fed back to members through the chambers. Contrasts between what the parties are saying now and have said in the past are being highlighted. The CCI is asking business people to be vocal on the bustings in relation to public expenditure.

Mr Kehoe said the recent success of the Irish economy could be "whittled away" over the three weeks of the election campaign. The CCI is trying to stop the political parties making commitments.

"Already this election campaign has been characterised by `promise and spend strategies'. Minority pressure groups are making hay while our political leadership is in disarray. Interest groups were making special pleas to the politicians. "Our special plea is no to special pleading."

"The drift in public expenditure is outrageous. Already the terms of Partnership 2000 have been breached. Already we are being told that the drift in 1998 will be 50 per cent more than we agreed only four months ago." CCI is a signatory to Partnership 2000.

"Economic growth allows resources to be spent on targeted issues of disadvantage, as agreed in Partnership 2000," Mr Kehoe said. "It also allows us to husband our resources so as to prepare for what will undoubtedly be a turbulent time as we approach EMU, and so as to consolidate our advantage as a growing European economy.

The fruits of economic growth should not be used by government to throw money at any problem so as to buy popularity in advance of an election, he said.

He called on the political parties to "stop squabbling over crime" but rather to focus on solutions to the problem.

Crime was a major issue for business throughout the country and instead of the parties "trying to steal each other's clothes", they should concentrate on coming up with serious policies, he said.

Mr Tom Clarke, operations manager of Gallagher Group, Dublin Ltd, has been elected vice president of the CCI.