Public servants have right to press case

IN his letter (January 14), James McGrath takes me to task for my “mistaken” opinions blaming the public sector for what he calls the unprecedented fiscal challenges facing the country.

Mr McGrath acknowledges that blame for the state the country is in “quite rightly lies at the feet of the Government”. If as a result of past government action, or inaction, “the ATM machine is now empty”, then the Government has to act.

If it decides there is no other way but to cut public service pay, then so be it.

But public servants who pay dues to unions to represent their interests have a right to expect those interests to be represented. This is a democracy. It may not be to the liking of the rest of us. But it is their right.

Since the recession began millions in taxpayers’ money has been spent on spindoctors, aided and abetted by media cheerleaders, scapegoating sections of society.

The snow job done on NAMA and the budget, in which the poorest citizens are being asked to pay for the sins of the powerful few, is a case in point. In this situation calling for people to work together in solidarity, as James McGrath is doing, is Utopian.

Anthony Leavy

Sutton

Dublin 13