Madam, - Martin Mansergh's apologia for the Government's decentralisation programme (Opinion, February 28th) attempts to cloak naked political opportunism with a semblance of rationality. It involves selective examples, ingenious interpretation of the National Spatial Strategy and revision of recent history.
In relation to the last, his choice of An Foras Forbartha as a warning to State agencies of what could happen to them if they don't toe the line - or take the train - is such a rewriting of history. We do recognise, however, that Dr Mansergh was not in the inner circle of government in the early 1980s and so he may be the recipient of myths rather than their creator.
The proposal to move An Foras Forbartha to Cork around 1981 was not part of any decentralisation policy. It was a relocation of the institute in order to provide an anchor tenant for the major redevelopment of a prominent site in the city centre.
At the time, we in An Foras Forbartha wondered why the Government should take such a keen and forceful interest in the development of a specific site. We speculated and had our theories, of course, but none could be proven. And, in any case, we had a lot more trust in government in those days.
But now, following the revelations of the various tribunals and looking at those who were in positions of power at that time, our speculations seem very credible. Perhaps the truth about An Foras Forbartha and Cork will emerge as the tribunals progress and allow an accurate history to be written. - Yours, etc.,
KEN MAWHINNEY,
LUKE GRIFFIN,
Clonard Drive,
Dublin 16.