Sir, – How are such ministerial pensions possible in such a modest economy (Home News, November 10th)? I taught in California for 40 years, most of them in the university system of the richest state in the richest country in the world. My pension there leaves me eligible for an Irish medical card. By the way, my salary from the Golden State was miserably commensurate. No, I’m not avid for more. Given the length of the academic year, I was probably overpaid. – Yours, etc,