Madam, – Having read that decisions on radical cuts (“Decisions on radical cuts to be delayed until the autumn”, July 1st) will not be made until October, I have temporarily left the long grass to replace my knife with something significantly larger. A deficit-sized meat cleaver perhaps?
The Government’s total lack of any sense of urgency or apparent intent to deal with the practical economic problems faced by the people of Ireland is appalling.
If Mr Cowen and his Cabinet do not act promptly and effectively now then they must face the reality that when the Lisbon Treaty referendum is put to the people again those of us who are determined to see their incompetence off will once again vote contrary to their wishes in protest against their inactivity.
I do not wish to see the Lisbon Treaty rejected again but I will vote against Mr Cowen and his Government at every opportunity until they either call an election or clearly demonstrate that they are both willing and able to govern this country in a manner that meets the needs of the people.
Mr Cowen, either do your job or stand aside immediately and make way for someone who is at least willing to try.
We cannot afford to suffer your current inaction and profligate spending of our future taxes any longer. – Yours, etc.
Madam, – Mark Hennessy’s article (“Cut all social welfare, says expert group”, June 30th) on the impending Bord Snip Nua report quotes a Ministerial source as saying that publication of the recommendations “could put too many options before people and poison the Lisbon debate”.
Hundreds of thousands of people across the state are already considering many unpalatable options; how to buy Christmas presents without the annual social welfare bonus, how to keep up mortgage repayments, or what to do when the three-day week dries up.
If the State is truly about to engage is a fire sale to the tune of €7 billion – cuts that could push thousands even further below the poverty line – might I suggest that the Government at least extends the courtesy of treating the people as adults with the ability to engage with the current crisis.
Europe and our economic and social future are inextricably linked and attempts to artificially separate one from the other will not work.
Dissent cannot and should not be regulated. As John F. Kennedy put it: “A nation that is afraid to let the people judge the truth and falsehood in an open market is a nation that is afraid of its people.” – Yours etc,