Madam, - Eoin Ryan MEP, like so many others, correctly points out that Ireland's ability to set its corporation tax rate is not affected by the Lisbon Treaty (May 13th) .
However, I have no doubt that Sinn Féin, Libertas et al. will continue to respond that it is possible for the European Court of Justice (ECJ) to rule that our rate is a "distortion of competition". This will continue the tired pantomime of: "Oh yes it is - oh no it isn't".
Mr Ryan would have helped matters considerably if he had directly tackled the assertion of the No-to-Lisbon side, which is that Article 113 potentially allows the ECJ to order Ireland to change this tax rate.
This article specifically relates to harmonising legislation on turnover tax, excise duties and other forms of indirect taxation (approval subject to unanimity of the Council of Ministers). As Mr Ryan should have made clear, corporation tax is a form of direct taxation and is not affected by this article. Any claim to the contrary is an example of disinformation, pure and simple. - Yours, etc,
JOHN KENNEDY, Goatstown, Dublin 14.
Madam, - On Monday Taoiseach Brian Cowen threatened to expel any Fianna Fáil TD, Minister or Senator who breaks ranks over the Lisbon Treaty.
He said: "And if there were to be anyone - and I don't know of anybody, but take it hypothetically - who had a conscientious problem, they would have to consider that outside the context of my parliamentary party."
This threat must represent an all-time low for politics and democracy in Ireland. Apparently there is no place in Fianna Fáil any longer for anyone who is remotely guided by conscience and by extension anybody else who votes "No" will also be regarded as a rebel and treated accordingly. What an outrageous threat to the freedom of conscience and democracy!
Where is Mr Cowen taking us and what does he think we are - sheep? If there never was any other reason for rejecting the treaty, this must be it. We cannot accept this threat and neither can we, in conscience, vote for the unknown pig in the Lisbon bag. - Yours, etc,
JOHN FERRY, Marymount, Sligo.