Sir, - Mr McCreevy states that prosperity must bring benefits to all. Sounds great, but here is one person who did not benefit one penny from this Budget.
I am a pensioner whose total income is £8,267 this year and exempt from tax, as my income is too low. I pay VAT at 12 1/2 per cent on my ESB and gas bills and 21 per cent on telephone bills. My wife has no pension or income. The increase of £2,000 for over 65s is a gimmick - £13,000 to £15,000 - as there are very few people on pension with that kind of income.
My wife does not qualify for a pension because she has not got enough stamps from her working years - the reason being, that the Government stole the stamp contributions for the years 1948 to 1953 from all workers. The socialists were in power with Fine Gael when that diabolical change was made. There is a hint that Charlie is going to do something about it now, a bit late in the day.
Mine is a boat that the rising tide will not lift. - Yours, etc.,
John Murphy, Howth Road, Sutton, Dublin 13.