Madam, - John Bradley's criticism of Peter Sutherland (February 13th), based on the interview with Mr Sutherland in my book Ireland's Economic Success, is unfair (interview reproduced in Innovation supplement, February 11th).
Mr Sutherland never said a "key cause" of Ireland's economic failure prior to 1990 was related to the use of structural funds. He said the funding had been substantial but that, in his opinion, it had been largely wasted. This view is a matter of opinion but it is a valid one. He argues that it should have been possible to improve both education and infrastructure, but the latter was not substantially improved and indeed remains poor today.
On Ireland's decision to join the eurozone, while the formal decision to join was taken in the mid-1990s, it is clear from the interview that he understood the course was set much earlier when Ireland's economy was in a fragile condition. But his main point, it seems to me, was to emphasise Ireland's acceptance of the rigours that membership imposed.
Finally, John Bradley criticised Mr Sutherland's comments on Ireland's "allegedly superior education system". Mr Sutherland was speaking generally about a system that he believes is under-funded at third level. In my opinion, he is largely correct. While I might place more emphasis on pre-schooling and upskilling, if education is to be our key competitive advantage in the future, and I believe it must be, then more money has to be spent in all areas, including improving the quality of third level. - Yours, etc,
PAUL SWEENEY, South Hill, Milltown, Dublin 6.