Madam, – Week in week out since the onset of this economic crisis an array of eminent economists has offered what appear to be informed comment on all aspects of the situation: all to no avail.
The efforts of Messrs Kelly, Lucey, Casey and Kinsella to name just a few, have fallen on deaf ears.
I wish to to suggest that The Irish Times should convene a debate – a symposium to which all the interested parties would be invited to contribute. This could be chaired by someone of the quality of John Bowman.
The people of this country need to know once and for all whether the apocalyptic views of the above group are correct or whether, contrary to the evidence, the Government and its advisers have got it right. – Yours, etc,
Madam, – In a letter in Business This Week (Personal Finance, June 12th) answered by Dominic Coyle, the letter writer had retired from the HSE, after 40 years as civil servant, on a full pension in 2008. This person is now back working for the HSE (part-time)doing the same kind of work as before retiring. The letter-writer bemoans the fact that they have to pay the pension levy on their new earnings with the HSE.
The real injustice here is that a retired person is now being re-employed by the same department they retired from, in effect being paid twice by the department.
This is a scandalous waste of resources. If a person retires from a department, they should not be allowed to return to work and still draw a pension.
By all means if their expertise is required they can be brought back, but their pension should be frozen.
Am I imagining the figure of 400,000 people on the dole? Is this what the Government is hoping for with the early retirement scheme? – Yours, etc,