Madam, - Brian Duncan's excellent article on the future of the Combat Poverty Agency merits full support (Opinion, September 22nd). He has been an exemplary chairman who, like each of his predecessors since 1986, has advanced the professionalism and independence of the agency.
The issue of Combat Poverty's independence is critical. From the establishment of the interim board during Barry Desmond's tenure as Minister for Social Welfare it has operated under 11 Ministers - eight Fianna Fáil and one each from Labour, Fine Gael and Democratic Left - and has fully maintained its independence and authority in its areas of competence through each change of government and minister.
It is significant that the report on which the threatened closure of Combat Poverty is based highlights "an inherent tension for Combat Poverty between the policy advice and promotional functions".
In other words, it is one thing to offer advice through official channels but another to pursue policy change through public information and discussion, in particular at a time of economic and fiscal difficulty.
Eliminating Combat Poverty may well make things easier at this time for ministers and some civil servants, but it will do nothing to advance the real priority for Irish society which is the reduction and ultimate elimination of poverty itself. - Yours, etc,
TONY BROWN, Bettyglen, Raheny, Dublin 5.