Sir, – To throw the Irish retail trade a lifeline this Christmas, the Government should restore in full the Christmas bonus for those in receipt of welfare allowances. It could be paid in the form of vouchers which would be cashable at designated retail outlets and for specified items such as groceries, clothing, furniture, jewellery, and other goods which might be used as presents. Such vouchers could have an expiry date – January 31st 2012, perhaps – and feature a security device such as is common in credit cards.
To bring joy to the poor and at the same time help our struggling retailers might be an appropriate recognition of the season that is almost upon us. – Yours, etc,