Differences between Greece and Ireland

Sir, – Congratulations to Kathy Sheridan ("If things were bad for Ireland just look at the alternatives", July 1st) for her concise analysis of the background differences between the Irish and Greek bail-out situations.

As Ms Sheridan says “Ireland elected three consecutive Fianna Fáil governments, knowing precisely what it was voting for”, and the Greeks continued to elect corrupt right-wing governments. Unfortunately, the electorates in both countries must carry their share of the blame for being gullible enough to believe pre-election promises.

Ireland is facing into a general election in less than a year, and it is alarming to hear the rhetoric of our own hard-left politicians and Sinn Féin as they seek to lend support to the Tsipras government for its bankrupt policies.

We should be grateful to Ministers Noonan and Howlin for getting Ireland up and running. Sure they have not delivered on transparency and accountability, but at least we are not standing in line at the ATMs. –Yours, etc, MIKE CORMACK Blackrock, Co Dublin. A chara, – Arthur Beesley’s analysis of the current Greek position (“What happens in the event of a default”, July 1st). show: €1.6 billion overdue to IMF; €2 billion due to private creditors; and €3.5 billion due to ECB. Subtotal, €7.1 billion. If it was to receive the bailout sum of €7.2 billion and paid the above, the balance would then be €0.1 billion. But €3.2 billion is due to ECB on August 20th. Just where does anybody think Greece would get the required €3.1 billion? Without growth Greece cannot recover, and more austerity will exacerbate the situation.

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Greece is effectively bankrupt, but the creditors seem not to understand that. It’s classic politics versus economics. – Is mise, SEAN O KIERSEY Blackrock, Co Dublin. Sir, – In 1967, the Greek military coup was announced with the arrest of parliamentarians, tanks occupying key positions in Athens and the seizing of TV and radio stations.

It’s a measure of the progress we have made that in 2015 all the European Central Bank had to do to get its way is withhold cash so that the Greek people can only get limited access to money and in frustration hopefully vote the “right” way in Sunday’s referendum. – Yours, etc, PAUL ARTHERTON Lenaghan Crescent, Belfast.