A chara, – Political editor Stephen Collins (Opinion, December 1st) stated “the Irish State has managed better than any other in the EU to protect the most vulnerable sectors in society from the worst hardships” endured during the course of fiscal correction.
Given that successive governments have refused to undertake impact analyses, which would provide information on how “vulnerable sectors” have fared since the beginning of the economic crisis, it is difficult to accept Collins’s statement, nevermind the certainty it seeks to convey.
The truth is that the State does not know how different sections of Irish society are impacted by governments’ economic policies, as the relevant disaggregated data haven’t been collected, and impact assessments have not been conducted.
Moreover, the limited research that is being done (eg by independent think tank Tasc), clearly highlights the disproportionate and repeated disadvantaging of certain groups, such as lone parents, and captures drastic increases in inequality over recent years. Unlike other countries, which include equality or gender-proofing as a logical and necessary part of economic policy-making, planning, and review, Ireland remains – perhaps wilfully – ignorant of the equality outcomes of policies introduced by government.
Unless the Irish State adopts equality-proofing as a standard practice applicable to all economic policies, it will continue to lack the relevant information to establish how vulnerable groups are affected. One would be wise to refrain from proclaiming the first-rate protection of “vulnerable sectors” until such time. – Is mise,
Sir, – As the Christmas season represents the most important period for retail in Ireland, it continues to make little or no sense to have austerity budgets, and all associated negative sentiment, in the middle of the season; less than three weeks before Christmas.
The budget in Ireland was traditionally held in the spring, as it is in most other countries. Instead, the peak trading season has to compete with the winter austerity and kite-flying period that starts in September.
Gloomy consumers have little appetite for shopping. Perhaps the Government could move the 2013 budget to February 2014 and ban all discussion of “impending doom” until after we have taken down our (worn out seven-year-old) decorations. That might add a percentage or two to economic growth and create a few jobs. – Yours, etc,
A chara, – Fine Gael has ruled out tax increases, citing it as a “red line issue” for them. Surely those on higher salaries could take an increase on taxes? We are still well behind most other European states on the amount of tax we pay.
While this is a “red line issue” it would appear that cuts to home help hours, other huge cuts in the health and education budgets as well as projected cuts to child benefit, increases to motor tax to name but a few are not.
Yet again middle Ireland is going to be hit the hardest. There is no more blood in that stone. And people thought this was going to be a radically different type of government. – Is mise,
Sir, – I have just seen the words fair and budget in the same sentence (Comment and Letters, December 3rd).
Thank you for providing the best laugh of the year. – Yours, etc,
Sir, – Alan Harper (December 4th) will be comforted to learn that as a mortgage-payer he – rather than the bank – owns his property.
By mortgaging his home he did not transfer ownership, but rather agreed to give the bank a very strong security on his home as a way of guaranteeing the debt.
While banks are afforded some very strong remedies over and above those on offer to normal creditors, we have long ago moved on from the 19th-century position where the mortgagee owned the property.
If Mr Harper fails to pay his mortgage his bank might apply for an order for possession, or an order for sale. However, none of this would ever transfer ownership to the bank.
As for his property rights, I think Mr Harper will find that taxation always represents an interference with your property rights. However, in any functioning society the property rights of the individual need to be balanced against the needs of the State to raise money through taxation. – Yours, etc,
Sir, – “When the elephants fight in the jungle, it’s the ants that get trampled on” was a phrase much in use during the Vietnam war. One would hardly expect the elephants to adequately convey the sense of pain endured by the ants in such a scenario. No reasonably sane person would consider even asking them.
Bear that in mind in our post Budget Day opinionfest frenzy. And watch the ants! Survival instinct will hopefully ensure they are heading for high ground, lest they drown in the annual tsunami of crocodile tears being copiously shed in Dáil Éireann by those same elephants! – Is mise,
Sir, – Little Richard turns 80 today: perhaps he would sum up our situation thus, “Good golly less lolly”? – Yours, etc,
Sir, – I know it is a little early to be talking about Christmas dinner, but is there not an air of Brussels spouts in Leinster House with this budget? – Yours, etc,