Sir, - On Thursday last the Minister for Finance published the Bretton Woods Agreements Bill and is set on rushing it through the Oireachtas before the Christmas break. Why the rush?
The Minister would have Ireland take part in the IMF's ESAF fund for the first time. This imposes upon the poorest countries "economic and social reform" in the style particular to the IMF. Our collective experience is that these programmes lead to further marginalisation of the poor.
The Minister is pressing this Bill against the advice of the development aid community, missionary groups, trade unions and solidarity groups. Before proceeding, the Bill should go through the full process of debate at committee stages so that its implications be considered in the public forum. - Yours, etc., Conall O'Caoimh,
Chairperson, Debt and Development, Coalition Ireland, All Hallows, Grace Park Road, Dublin 9.