Madam, - In light of Fintan O'Toole's comments (Opinion, December 11th) regarding stamp duty reduction on bank ATM and payment cards in Brian Cowen's Budget, we feel it important to point out that consumer, business and banking interests are united in endorsing the reduction.
The Consumers' Association of Ireland, Chambers Ireland and the Irish Banking Federation have jointly campaigned for the abolition of stamp duty from bank cards as being in the interests of consumers and businesses generally.
It is also in the interests of our national competitiveness to adopt efficient electronic and card-based means of payment over some of the less efficient cash and paper-based ones.
We see the Budget announcement as the first positive signal of Government intent to encourage greater efficiency in payments by all parties. It is a very welcome step in the potential development of a world-class payments infrastructure that should bring benefits to all.
- Yours, etc,
DERMOTT JEWELL, Chief Executive, Consumers' Association of Ireland;
JOHN DUNNE, Chief Executive, Chambers Ireland;
PAT FARRELL, Chief Executive, Irish Banking Federation; Ranelagh, Dublin 6.
Madam - John Conlon, press officer for the Department of Finance (December 13th), takes Fintan O'Toole to task for his excellent column on the increase in stamp duty on cheques.
Mr Conlon cites the National Competitiveness Council's report in support of his argument. This report makes it plain that Ireland is now the second most expensive location for consumers in the EU 15 (the EU states prior to the accession of 10 new members in 2004).
The report indicates that the areas which have contributed most to inflation include education, health and utilities such as electricity and water. These are all areas which are under the control of Government, be it central or local. One of the main causes of inflation in these areas has of course been the benchmarking process.
The Competitiveness Council has also highlighted that Ireland's infrastructural quality is ranked only 25th in the OECD 28. This is an area which has been under the control of Mr Ahern's Government for the past 10 years and again the cost of financing the benchmarking process reduced investment in infrastructure with consequent damage to the economy.
Finally, in an open economy such as Ireland's, it is illogical and anti-competitive for Government to levy taxes on any kind of payment method.
- Yours, etc,
GEARÓID Ó DUBHÁIN, Mount Oval Village, Rochestown, Co Cork.
Madam, - John Conlon, press officer for the Department of Finance, suggests that "cheque usage per head in Ireland has stabilised at 130 million". Really? Yet again, I must be seriously underperforming.
- Yours, etc,
MUIRIS DE BHULBH, Celbridge Road, Leixlip, Co Kildare.