A chara, - The Government's decision to appoint only one of eight commissioners recommended by its own "independent" selection committee is to be deplored. Once again, only this time in a more blatant fashion, the NGOs, the community sector and the people they espouse to represent, the poor, the homeless, the travellers, have been marginalised and excluded.
It raises very serious questions for all concerned. The Minister for Justice has already defended the indefensible (The Irish Times December 11th) and will continue to do so, irrespective of what the offended parties do. Put simply, he knows that the community sector has no real clout and can be conveniently ignored. Except, perhaps, when the notion of partnership needs an airing by way of a report or a seminar or a joint photocall with the various strands in a "we're-all-in-this-together" smiling syndrome.
Surely now, after this latest insult, the NGOs, together with the community platform and the community sector say, enough is enough and withdraw from all co-operation with a Government that treats them with, at worst, disdain, at best, condescension and contempt. - Is mise, etc.,
Joe Kelly, Montpelier Gardens, Dublin 7.