Sir, – I note that Bono, addressing the European People's Party congress in Dublin, has said that he loves Europe ("Ireland bailed out by Irish people, not troika", Home News, March 8th). Why wouldn't he? Doesn't he have an elaborate corporate structure based in the Netherlands to reduce tax? – Yours, etc,
PADDY CORLEY,
Beechpark,
Ennis,
Co Clare.
Sir, – By all accounts the U2 frontman is a very nice man; but I think his grasp of basic economics leaves a lot to be desired. His “The Irish people bailed out the Irish people” remarks at the European People’s Party conference were naive in the extreme and bordered on the condescending. For his information, “the Irish people” were forced to bail out the banks, the bondholders and the financial power elite.
Of course, our European masters will insist that the imposition of such an intolerable financial burden on the State was pro bono publico (ie, for the good of European fiscal stability). – Yours, etc,
PAUL DELANEY,
Beacon Hill,
Dalkey,
Co Dublin.