Travails Of The Tiger

Sir, - At the Institute of Irish Engineers Annual Conference last month, the Taoiseach reiterated the importance of quality infrastructure…

Sir, - At the Institute of Irish Engineers Annual Conference last month, the Taoiseach reiterated the importance of quality infrastructure for Ireland's competitiveness and the quality of life of our people.

He stressed that short-term downturns in the world economy or in the Budget surplus would not deter the Government from continuing investment in infrastructure and that Government plans over the long term and the National Development Plan would be fully implemented.

How can we have faith in a Government whose Minister for Finance blatantly undermines the commitments made by his leader less than four weeks earlier? Mr McCreevy seems intent on ensuring that Ireland retains its Third World infrastructure in spite of the overwhelming evidence that this will be the major constraint on the economy's future growth.

Mr Ahern should stand by the commitments made or hand over power to the real government decision-maker, Mr McCreevy. - Yours, etc.,

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M. Cassidy, Tralee, Co Kerry.