Madam, – In 2003, I borrowed €62,000 to pay my property tax (stamp duty). I had to pay it in full as a cash sum in advance. I will be paying off that loan for a further 14 years. Would any new property tax not be double taxation – or would I be allowed to offset the crippling stamp duty repayments against any annual bill for a new property tax? – Yours, etc,
Madam, – Jack O’Connor, president of Siptu, has called for a general election. He states he has “refrained from making such a call as I do not believe it is good for trade union leaders to put ourselves at such odds with the government”, and then proceeds to do just that by calling for the dissolution of Government. This is straightforward party politics. His union gives political and financial support to one political party, the Labour Party. What Mr O’Connor means is that his political party wants a general election.
If Mr O’Connor wants to get involved in party politics, that’s his choice. If he wants to involve his union in party politics, that’s a matter for him and his members. But Mr O’Connor is also president of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions and this makes it the business of every member of every affiliated trade union. I am a member of a union (National Union of Journalists) that does not, as a matter of principle, contribute to any political party, but is affiliated to Ictu. It is important to me that my trade union, and any organisation to which it is affiliated, keeps out of party politics. I would ask Mr O’Connor to definitely and unambiguously clarify that this partisan policy is not the policy of Ictu. – Yours, etc,
Madam, – It is clear that sunbed use and sun exposure especially for the Irish complexion may cause skin cancers (“Study prompts review of sunbed legislation”, July 30th). Already many children under the age of 18 may have developed underlying skin problems which may led to skin cancer in later years.
There is a clear opportunity in this country to create and raise taxes and levies on goods and services which are proven to contribute to people’s ill-health. Why is our Minister for Health not generating new ideas to tax unhealthy goods and services, instead of just implementing cuts? Call it a hospital levy and put it on sunbeds, cigerettes, alcohol, confectionery including fizzy drinks and chocolate which are causing obesity in very young children. – Yours, etc,