Madam, - With the Budget almost upon us, it seems we will all have to tighten our belts. I take it we can all look forward to seeing Government ministers (senior and junior) at their local St Patrick's Day parades in 2009. - Yours, etc,
KEVIN McCORMACK,
Whispering Pines,
Farran,
Co Cork.
Madam, - The idea of taxing child benefit has been mooted again recently; it is neither new nor wise.
I am reminded of much tougher economic times when we in the Labour Women's National Council advised Brendan Corish, then minister for health, against such a proposal.
Our logic was that while a family might appear to be well off, in some cases - because of alcoholism, gambling, or simple bullying, for instance - the stay-at-home parent, usually the mother, has no access to the family income. This is why child benefit has never been touched, despite the occasional suggestion that means-testing it would be fairer, regardless of the associated administrative cost.
A much more effective way to save money and the dignity of an unknown number of parents with children is to fairly tax the highest earners by abolishing their perks and tax shelters. - Yours, etc,
Cllr MARY FREEHILL,
(Labour Party),
Grove Road,
Rathmines,
Dublin 6.