Don’t repeat history, but don’t rewrite it either

Fergus Finlay (Opinion, Jan 7) is right that we should learn from history, but we must not rewrite it to suit a new political narrative.

Mr Finlay attacks Fianna Fáil’s record in government, and follows the Labour line that FF policies created a mess and that the current government’s policies restored our economy and reputation.

Labour and Fine Gael supported the thrust of Fianna Fáil’s economic policy from 1997-2008, complaining only that FF should spend more on services and tax less.

This was the political orthodoxy of the time (Sinn Féin and left-wing parties also demanded more spending, not less). Micheal Martin has admitted Fianna Fáil got it wrong in narrowing the tax base.

Labour’s Pat Rabbitte has never said he got it wrong in promising to cut the standard tax rate to 18%, in 2007; nor has Eamon Gilmore admitted that Labour overpromised at the last election and consistently under-delivered since.

There is the ultimate irony, however, that the current government is claiming credit for the fruits of a plan that was set out by the late Brian Lenihan and which they opposed.

Fianna Fáil has supported the Government in the implementation of that plan, but has opposed some of the choices that the Government (not the Troika) has made, such as the unjust targeting of people with special needs and disabilities.

Given that we both agree, however, on the importance of learning from the past, perhaps Mr Finlay would urge the Labour Party to drop its policy of abandoning history as a compulsory second-level subject.

Cllr. Malcolm Byrne, FF

Gorey

Co Wexford