Sir, - The timely article by Colum McDonnell (April 29th) on the urgent need for a White Paper on trade policy, takes on a particular relevance in the context of recent unfortunate developments in Packard Electric.
In the medium to longer terms, there is absolutely no prospect of Irish industry services being able to compete with labour intensive operations in Eastern Europe and, particularly, with those in the Far East. This problem is now no longer confined to manual operations but is increasingly happening in intellectually based activities. For example, computer software can now be produced in these locations by high quality graduates for a fraction of the Irish cost.
It is impossible to see how we can avoid a succession of Packards in future if we stick to current policies; even if we change the emphasis to capital intensive operations, it is difficult to be optimistic unless these are based on some robust indigenous advantages like climate or land for example - do we have any others?
The Government should act now on Mr McDonnell's plea for a fundamental re think of our trade policy - it may be later than they think. - Yours, etc.,
Rathfarnham,
Dublin 14.