Madam, – The tragedy is that if this Government had come to the people on Budget day, October 14th last, with a coherent package based on the realities – and stuck with it – it would have had most of the people with it.
They have had six long (and hugely damaging) months since last July to address our problems credibly. The opinion polls and the international markets have given their verdict. The members of the Government may have a constitutional mandate but they do not have the moral, the managerial nor the political authority to govern, let alone lead us through the hurricane.
If they do not go (as Neville Chamberlain went in 1940 during a life-and-death national struggle), or are not sacked by their Dáil “majority”, we will be back here again in six months’ time with even less upon which to build a recovery. Or even to save the country as a minimal going concern. – Yours, etc,
Madam, – This country is not only financially bankrupt but, more importantly, morally bankrupt. It is moral bankruptcy that has got Ireland into the current mess. It has little to do with the world recession, as the Government wants us to believe. It is down to adoration of the God of corruption and greed among all levels of authority in this country. The government of the past 10 or more years has collected billions in taxes and has just thrown it away with no respect for where it came from, just like spoilt children who know they can always turn to Daddy for more. So the Government once again has the audacity to turn to Daddy Joe Public with plans to increase taxes and reduce pay and pensions.
The only way to get this country out of the current mess is for Joe Public, in both private and public sectors to stand together and refuse to accept the corruption, irresponsibility and lack of accountability that prevail in the so called “golden circle” made up of national and local government, bankers, property developers, auditors and financial regulators. Thanks to their endeavours Ireland is now viewed internationally like a corrupt African state, where dishonesty and corruption are praised and glorified instead of penalised. The Government should not receive a penny more directly or indirectly until it has cleaned up its own housekeeping and the culprits in the “golden circle” are fired and punished for their conduct as in any reputable country. Only then will Ireland have any chance of mending its tarnished reputation, allowing confidence and trust to return nationally and internationally.
We deserve better. – Yours, etc,
Madam, – It’s great to hear Ibec demanding cuts in the public sector on the basis of the pensions that the sector “enjoys”. No doubt, when the recovery comes, Ibec will also demand Christmas bonuses for teachers, doctors and nurses, not to mention tax write-offs of as much income as we like on increased pension contributions. Oh, I forgot to mention fully-expensed cars. And Christmas parties. And “business trips”. . . – Yours, etc,
Madam, – While €2 billion may seem a significant sum to be cut from Government spending this year, taken in the context of consumer spending in recent years, the amount is not that large. In the year 2007 over €7 billion was spent in the Republic on alcohol (€1,750 per man, woman and child), €2 billion on tobacco (€500 per person) and €4 billion on clothing and footwear (€1,000 per head). Even the amount spent on non-alcoholic beverages, €610 million, was quite staggering, at €152 per person.
The amount of personal income spent outside the State amounted to €5.8 billion. – Yours, etc,
Madam, – Michael J. McNamara (January 29th) seems to advocate lowering the current minimum wage in the interests of competitiveness.
In response I would point out that for anybody earning this wage, life is often competitive enough: one competes against rising costs, financial insecurity and one-sided pro-competition arguments which fail to take account of the serious matters frequently occurring at the level of the “maximum wage”. – Yours, etc,
Madam, – It’s unfortunate that agreement could not be reached at the social partnership talks, but it hardly comes as a major surprise.
Several days appear to have been largely wasted as the Government’s initial input was so lacking in specifics as to be described as “a blancmange” by union participants.
This seems in line with the standard Government approach to planning, as shown by initiatives from the 2003 decentralisation scam to the October 2008 budget. A “back of the envelope” approach seems to prevail.
The second issue which always seemed likely to derail the talks was “scope creep”, where a weak management process allowed the talks agenda to become an ever-lengthening wish list for all participants.
All this simply raises further questions about the competence of the Taoiseach and the Government to manage the country out of its current distressed economic condition. – Yours, etc,
Madam, – Over the past year I have attended a number of protests against the reintroduction of third-level fees and rises in the registration fee.
Passionate as I was about my cause, I must now rescind my beliefs. I urge the thousands of students protesting in Dublin to wake up. I feel that those who continue to insist that free third-level education is a right cannot fully comprehend the depth of the depression we are in. Education is a right, which is why primary and second level schooling will remain free, resulting in high standards of literacy and numeracy among our youth. However, those who afford it must pay for third level.
We need to invest in research and development, we need to invest in the knowledge economy, and we have to pay for it somehow. – Is mise,
KATIE HARRINGTON,
Briarfield,
Castletroy,
Limerick.
Madam, – The media seem very concerned by Ireland’s international credit rating and how it may be adversely affected by the failure of the partnership talks, making it even more expensive to service the national debt. I am surprised that rating agencies continue to have any credibility in the marketplace, given their abject failure in rating mortgage backed assets, the ultimate cause of the sub-prime collapse and the resultant global credit crisis. – Yours, etc,