Sir, - With reference to the letter from Leo Varadkar (February 2), the European Commission report which recommends the abolition of duty-free sales is no more than that - a report and a recommendation. The decision to abolish duty-free sales was taken by the unanimous decision of the economic and finance ministers (ECO-FIN) on November 11th, 1991. At that time, the then Fianna Fail Government was in the middle of yet another crisis. The Taoiseach, Charles Haughey, had just sacked his Finance Minister, Albert Reynolds, and had taken the Finance portfolio unto himself. No Irish Minister attended that meeting (any Minister could substitute for the Finance Minister). Ireland was represented at the ECO-FIN council by Mr Padraic MacKernan (Ambassador, Permanent Representative). He voted, on clear instructions from the Irish Government, for the abolition of duty-free sales.
Ireland had a right to an absolute veto on this decision but did not exercise it.
It is therefore inaccurate to say that the present Taoiseach, Bertie Ahern TD, attended the meeting. He was not appointed to the Finance portfolio until November 14, 1991. He has, however, attempted to take credit for the part of the decision to abolish duty-free sales that postponed the implementation date to 1999.
Let there be no mistake: Bertie Ahern and Mary O'Rourke were serving Ministers in the Irish Government that supported the abolition of duty-free sales. They were collectively responsible for that decision. Their subsequent attempts to reverse the decision was a futile attempt to prevent their own chickens coming home to roost.
Perhaps Mrs O'Rourke will now ensure that the estimated £40 million in additional duties that will be collected by the Government in excise duties will be used to prevent the threatened increases in air fares within Europe.-Yours, etc., Emmet M. Stagg, TD,
Straffan, Co Kildare.