Madam, - I write to congratulate Father Sean Healy on the courageous view of economic priorities that he has voiced in recent weeks.
This stance goes back many years and his analysis of budgetary policy has been very challenging to the accepted positions of recent governments. To be able to present a coherent case in the face of jeering comments from such heavyweights as diarist Kevin Myers and outgoing Minister for Finance Charlie McCreevy is certainly worthy of praise.
Most church people argue their case for the care of the poor on compassionate gospel grounds and are often ignored as being innocent or "wet behind the ears". Father Healy speaks the language of the economist and is well able to talk in terms politicians understand.
His views deserve to be analysed on their merits rather than dismissed as "nonsense". There should be a national debate on economic policy and on the increased levels of poverty resulting from present priorities. - Yours, etc.,
JOHN KIRBY, Bishop of Clonfert, Loughrea, Co Galway.