Sir, – Thomas Ryan (January 21st) is wrong to criticise a group of people who have taken the time to try to end an economic policy that they find unfair.
They are among the many people in our society who are against policies of the Government, feel betrayed by broken promises and believe the best way to effect change is in a non-partisan way – in this case anyway.
It is irrelevant that many of them are academics and high earners. They are calling for the more equitable path of recovery, and I’m sure many of them would not object to more taxation, if it was for progressive reasons. Many of these people are well qualified economic experts, and their reasoning should be examined, not subjected to an attack on their organisational structure, lack of party structure or personal finances.
I’m also quite sure they would be satisfied with any of the more acceptable alternative and opposition budgetary submissions. Their efforts to effect change are to be commended, or at least debated, not swiped at and picked on with repetitive jibes. – Yours, etc,
A chara, – I cannot speak for my other academic co-signatories (January 20th), but I can assure Thomas Ryan (January 21st) that the majority of people working in our universities do not earn even a significant fraction of the €150,000 salaries that are referred to in his letter.
Like all public sector employees, cuts to the funding of universities have affected us, too – in all sorts of ways, including increased workloads, and yes, in our pay. I can also answer his question, and thereby further reassure him, in stating that reading and signing the letter took no more than a few minutes. Thus, I was able to attend, without significant disruption, to my regular work of the training of teachers and guidance counsellors, and my research into helping schools to prevent and counter bullying and violence.
While the latter has not been a particular concern for successive governments (unfortunately, the “concrete proposals” I have made have been largely ignored), I have found that many teachers and parents (and yes, the taxpayers who contribute to university funding) do find this area to be of importance.
Finally, given the disastrous social and economic implications of centre-right policies pursued over recent administrations, let me say that I find no insult at all in being characterised as “left-wing”. – Is mise,