Madam, - While Minister for Enterprise Micheál Martin may have expressed "utter disbelief" at Ictu's referral to Brussels of proposed changes in the Business Expansion Scheme, I am equally astounded at the lack of balanced comment in the media and the silence from the Opposition.
It is not so long since Minister for Finance Brian Cowen committed himself to phasing out the tax shelters which enable higher earners in this country to pay very little tax - and in some cases none whatsoever. How can his proposal to increase the BES personal limit from €31,750 to €150,000 be squared with eliminating tax shelters? What is the evidence that existing BES schemes cannot be filled within the current limit?
The proposal is just another step in increasing the inequalities in our tax system, and I hope the European Commission will see it as such. - Yours, etc,
TOM NOLAN,
Kill Lane,
Foxrock,
Dublin 18.