Madam, - I have long been accustomed to hearing the obligatory chorus of disapproval from certain reliable quarters (employers' groups, economists, certain media elements) when a group of ordinary workers seek a modest pay rise. This disapproval often revolves around an element of alleged "greed" on the part of the workers seeking the rise.
I therefore expected a veritable tsunami of outrage from these same people at the news of what must be "greed" of an astronomical degree being displayed by Ulster Bank which reported profits of no less than €775 million for last year (The Irish Times, March 1st). Yet, having perused thoroughly the next day's edition of the paper I couldn't find even the merest hint of discontent from the usual quarters.
One is then left with only one logical and inescapable conclusion - that they are, to paraphrase former British MP, Peter Mandelson, "intensely relaxed" about the corporate sector making vast sums of money, but extremely agitated about ordinary workers increasing their lot by what, in comparison, amounts to a mere pittance. - Yours, etc,
DAVID MARLBOROUGH, Kenilworth Park, Dublin 6w.