Madam, - I heard the Tánaiste on Tuesday's Morning Irelanddescribing the political party of which he is leader as "a Ronseal Party. It does what it says on the tin".
I have such a tin to hand. The legend on its side informs me that the contents are ultra-tough and impart a deep gloss to wooden material. They are, however, very toxic and contain a high percentage of volatile compounds. Prolonged contact is not recommended.
In cases of extended exposure immediate washing with plenty of soap and water is advised. Above all, they should be kept out of the reach of children. - Yours etc,
ALAN COUNIHAN, Tullabrin, Johnswell, Co Kilkenny.
Madam, - We, the "hard-working families" of Ireland, are made! Our houses will be bought for us by the State. Our old-age pensions will expand by 50 per cent in the next five years. Our Minister for Health will take personal responsibility for every bed-pan and bandage in every hospitals, and tuck us up comfortably in thousands of extra-fine feather beds. Our five-year-olds, clutching their free medical cards, will clog every doctor's surgery in the country. Our toddlers will get a year's free pre-school, irrespective of our individual means.
Our personal taxes will be reduced by 2 per cent at the standard rate or 1 per cent at the top rate, depending on who's doing the offering, without any deleterious economic effects. Our environment will be saved by our world leadership in renewable energies, especially hot air. Our suspect criminals will be tagged and disorderly types thrown in drunk tanks. There'll be so many gardaí on the beat we won't go out for fear of tripping over them.
To cap it all, a burning concern of the political snake-oil salesmen and women peddling this codswallop is to make us all "happy". Perhaps I was mistaken in thinking politics is about a vision for the long-term future of a country with a rapidly increasing population, a shrinking industrial base, a creaking infrastructure and a deteriorating environment. About managing the economy to ensure stable and sustainable growth. About reforms to loosen the stranglehold of entrenched vested interests on health, transport and other services. About public representatives, without fear or favour, making difficult decisions in the national interest, balanced to take account of individual and community rights.
No doubt the quality of political discourse will improve as the election draws near. As for politicians' concern for my happiness: thanks, guys, but I can look after that bit myself. - Yours, etc,
VERONICA McDERMOTT, Chesterfield View, Dublin 13.
Madam, - I read with interest the Progressive Democrats' plan to increase the state pension to €300 if they are returned to power. But if the Tánaiste is earnest in his commitment to rewarding pensioners for the contribution they have made to Ireland's economic success and to ensuring they are financially equipped to live in dignity, then he must seriously look at index-linking the State pension to the average industrial wage.
Age Action wants the State pension to be index-linked and to reach 50 per cent of the average industrial wage by 2016. Currently it just above 33 per cent.
The failings of the current practice of setting a target figure and then achieving that target after five years is being experienced by a third of pensioners today. They are on the €200 non-contributory pension. This was a target set by the government in 2002. When it was reached in the last Budget there was much back-slapping among government TDs. However, the reality is that this left non-contributory pensioners €3.55 under the poverty line at a time of unprecedented wealth in this country.
It should be a matter of national shame that Ireland has one of the lowest pension spends in Europe.
The fact that over 80 per cent of older people depend on the State pension as their main source of income in retirement means that pensions will be a key issue in the general election campaign. With 17 per cent of the electorate aged over 65, every party with ambitions to form the next government will have to make this issue a priority. - Yours, etc,
EAMON TIMMINS, Head of Advocacy and Communications, Age Action, Camden Street, Dublin 2.
Madam, - David Carroll (February 14th) says that if Charlie McCreevy had announced he was becoming a socialist, he would have been laughed out of office. However, his old boss Bertie Ahern did announce that he was a socialist and he wasn't laughed out of office. At least, not yet. - Yours, etc,
PATRICK O'BYRNE, Shandon Crescent, Phibsborough, Dublin 7.