Sir, - A society can be truly judged by the way in which it treats its most vulnerable. A recent survey by the Combat Poverty Agency showed that Irish women headed up the list of the poorest women in the EU. Most of these were living alone and a large number of them were widows.
Those in power in these times of plenty should indeed hang their heads in shame. Those who shout most get most. Perhaps there should be lobbyist for the vulnerable. Frank Dunlop could have a community service role in this area.
The current crop of widows are the mothers and primary educators of the Celtic tigers. They lived through lean times when mothering was the recognised role for a woman, when third or even second level education was not the norm, particularly for women. Mr de Valera had a clause inserted in the Constitution that no mother would ever have to desert the family home because of economic necessary but this proved as hollow as a tin can. In any case jobs were as scarce as hen's teeth and those who had decent jobs in the banks, civil service, Aer Lingus, etc., had to leave them on marriage.
Every man had a "wife", a full-time caretaker/home-maker/ childcare worker and could get on with the business of cultivating his career - and it was all free. In those dark days a wife in the home was not even covered by her husband's PRSI for dental treatment, and many a mother went without this vital care.
Bigger families were the norm then for well-known reasons and when "mothering" was over (if it ever is) what was there in the area of career choice for these women? Mainly menial work for "pin money" which is another word for "slave labour". No reclaiming their place on the career ladder; it was belt-tightening time for all - Charlie Haughey said so.
So what now for these brave ladies? Just as they were beginning to look forward to the "golden years" the hand of fate falls hard and they are alone. Many of them are dealt a double blow on discovering that their husband's pension died with him and they are expected to survive on a widow's pension of approximately £80 per week, when members of the Oireachtas are looking for a rise of £200 per week.
And what happens to those who may have a little income? Suddenly, they find themselves in the tax-net, taking a steep drop in the standard of living they had when their husbands were alive. They are not single people. They must keep the home fires burning for many reasons. If they should be so lucky to have a few bob in the bank, even with minuscule interest rates, the interest is subject to DIRT (now proven to be a tax paid only small people), even though it is often hard-won savings on which tax has already been paid. Is it any wonder that so many hide it under the mattress - it's handier than the Caymens.
There should be a minimum income of £200 per week for widows and those over 50 years of age in receipt of income of £20,000 or less should be taken out of the tax net and be exempt from DIRT. They have had enough belt-tightening, enough sacrifice! Give them the dignity of a few bob in their pockets before ill-health or the undertakers come to call.
Now that our "leaders" have taken to using the language of a dictatorship, one ponders whether it could it be any worse for the most vulnerable if we had some "left-wing Pinkos" to rescue the "creepin Jesuses" of this Celtic tiger. - Yours, etc.,
(Mrs) E. M. O'Mahony, Sandymount, Dublin 4.