Sir, – Fintan O’Toole’s unjust criticism (Opinion, August 20th) of the former tánaiste and minister for justice, Michael McDowell, fails to acknowledge Mr McDowell’s huge contribution to public life in this State. Which minister or politician in the last 30 years has contributed as much as Mr McDowell to the betterment of this State and at such cost to himself both financially and in terms of the abuse received, than Mr McDowell?
Michael McDowell was a founding member of the Progressive Democrats and it was his intellectual drive that gave the party its unique appeal in promoting lower taxes on work. Ultimately all political parties reinvented their ideology because of McDowell. Michael McDowell created the Personnel Injuries Assessment Board (PIAB). He withstood huge opposition from the legal profession. This initiative by Mr McDowell has helped reduce the gravy train of expensive and unnecessary personnel injuries court cases. In 2007 McDowell introduced a Criminal Justice Bill which increased detention time to question suspects, restricted the right to bail and introduced crime prevention orders. All of these measures were fully welcomed by the Irish people in the battle against criminal gangs.
Mr McDowell was the first minister in more than 70 years to radically reform the Garda; in the form of the creation of the Garda Inspectorate and Garda Ombudsman Commission. This has ensured Ireland has a police force with proper checks and balances. On immigration McDowell showed immense leadership. He brought forward a constitutional change to close a loophole that had put Irish maternity hospitals under severe pressure. His leadership helped ease racist resentment. The 27th amendment to the Constitution was backed by 80 percent of the electorate.
Considering the perilous state of the country’s finances and the total lack of leadership from the established political parties, the return to public life by a statesman of Mr McDowell’s stature would be most welcome. – Yours, etc,
JOHN KENNY,
Arundel,
Monkstown Valley,
Co Dublin.