Sir, – The only surprise about the European Commission's warning to the Government regarding the agreed €2 billion in spending cuts for 2015 was the restrained tone of its delivery ("Brussels puts further pressure on Coalition over policies", Front Page, June 3rd).
The troika had hardly left our shores when those who were left in charge of the instruction manual reverted to type.
Most of the talk centred on rising employment figures, more jobs in the pipeline and confidence in our ability to ride out the storm. The Minister for Finance even welcomed the return of rising house prices as further evidence of business as usual.
But the feel-good factor diverted our attention from the primary goal of debt reduction.
Anti-EU rhetoric and the recent scramble for council seats seem to have adversely affected the judgment of those whose job it is to play by the rules (ie, the government of the day). Like it or lump it, we accepted the terms of the bailout and we must honour that agreement. – Yours, etc,
NIALL GINTY,
The Demesne,
Killester, Dublin 5.
Sir, – Economically, it is difficult to justify continuing to take fiscal policy instruction from Brussels. Ethically, it is impossible. Persisting with this callous EU experiment will merely confirm our bankruptcy is no longer just financial but has become moral. – Yours, etc,
BARRY FLANAGAN,
Sydenham Court,
Dublin 4.
Sir, – It seems inappropriate for the European Commission to issue advice and guidance to each of the member states as to how to manage their individual economies in the hiatus between the election of Members of the new European Parliament and the first meeting of the new parliament.
What the elections demonstrate is not a rejection of Europe as an entity (except in the case of a small minority), rather a willingness of Europeans to share the development of their peoples and its economies in a collaborative fashion. This desire should be a clear message to the European Commission to step back and listen to the people to whom it is ultimately responsible. – Yours, etc,
DONAL LAMONT,
Spencer Villas,
Glenageary, Co Dublin.