‘Leprechaun economics’

Sir, – Surely “leprechaun economics” is merely a branch of micro-economics? – Yours, etc,

J LYONS,

Dublin 8.

Sir, – Can we expect to see the establishment of an “O’Gill Summer School”? – Yours, etc,

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PAUL DELANEY,

Dalkey,

Co Dublin.

Sir, – Despite the derision heaped on us over the massive distortion of GDP growth by an unusual surge in certain transactions by multinational and aircraft leasing companies, the Government is quick to reassure us that the true figure is still a healthy 7.8 per cent. It smugly pronounces the fastest- growing little country in Europe, or is it the world?

So that’s grand, then!

Or is it? I quote from the CSO’s website which declares that, “In the five years to Q1 2016 overall average hourly earnings increased by 0.8 per cent from €22.22 to €22.40”. That’s 0.8 per cent in five years – not per annum.

For the leprechauns, it looks like the crock of gold remains as out of reach as ever! – Yours, etc,

EAMONN LAWLESS,

Shankill,

Dublin 18.