Sir, – John McManus makes a number of excellent points ("Mark Zuckerberg would be better paying taxes", Opinion & Analysis, December 3rd). Tax paid to the state, and spent in the realisation of citizens' rights, is the only legitimate basis on which people's rights to education, health, or housing can be ensured. When individuals and corporations find means of staying one step ahead of the revenue authority to avoid paying significant amounts of tax, states' ability to fulfil the rights of their citizens is undermined. This is as true in Zambia, which loses more to corporate tax dodging than it receives in aid, as it is in Ireland.
Mr Zuckerberg’s actions may be well-intentioned, but ultimately serve only to undermine the role of the state as the principle guarantor of the rights of its citizens. – Yours, etc,
SORLEY McCAUGHEY,
Head of Advocacy
and Policy,
Christian Aid Ireland,
Canal Road,
Dublin 6.