Madam, - I wholeheartedly agree with Thomas Geoghegan (July 2nd) that Ireland should ratify the EU Convention Against Corruption, which we signed in December 2003.
If I may be allowed to quote myself, I said in this newspaper on March 10th this year that "if African countries are to make the great leap forward one burning issue needs to be addressed: the manner in which bureaucrats and officials across the continent line their pockets daily, and refuse to relinquish power".
Mr Geoghegan is also correct that the West has an enormous burden of responsibility to stamp out the crooked dealings and backhanded channels of commerce that line the pockets of few while excluding most. Until recently in France, for example, it was not only legal to bribe officials of foreign governments, it was tax-deductible. This was clearly wrong - but things are improving.
Goal also believes that Ireland should not stop short at ratifying the EU Convention. It should bring action to bear. Given that, in a recent World Bank study, up to 40 per cent of private sector companies surveyed worldwide admitted to paying bribes to win government contracts, this is clearly a huge problem.
While institutional bribery by massive Western interests clearly sustains an environment where graft is acceptable - and expected - we cannot ignore the damage also being done by a litany of corrupt and despotic third world leaders. - Yours, etc,
JOHN O'SHEA, Goal, PO Box 19, Dún Laoghaire, Co Dublin.