Sir, - The reaction to Mary Harney's claim that the Progressive Democrats stand for, and deliver, social justice shows how some people are determined to read what they want, no matter what she said or wrote.
Myles Crowe (March 8th) berates Ms Harney for claiming to be a real social democrat. She never did, as other politicians in search of principles have done. In fact, the Progressive Democrats are neither left-wing social democrats nor old-world conservatives.
He also complains about the nursing-home scandal and other failures of public administration. The Tanaiste said these health scandals were matters of social justice to be remedied, because they show how unjust and unfair the organisation of our public affairs has been.
Cllr Jim D'Arcy of Fine Gael (March 6th) complains that Ms Harney argues for social services "consistent with individual freedom". What does he want? Free healthcare, free education, free childcare, free housing but no freedom itself? That was the so-called caring society forced upon the Russians, the North Koreans and the East Germans with disastrous effects.
Maev-Ann Wren (From the Doorstep, March 6th) complains the Government is unjustly giving her back her own money through the savings plan. We'll see how many savers agree! As regards re-distribution of income, Ms Harney pointed out that 12 per cent of income taxpayers already pay more than half of all income tax collected, which amounts to substantial re-distribution.
Mebh Ruane's gripe with Ms Harney (Opinion, March 2nd) is about no tax allowance for childcare. But this would have favoured the better off, unlike the policy we backed of a £25 to £30 per month increase in children's allowance for all, to support parents in whatever childcare arrangements they choose.
We in the Progressive Democrats believe great advances have been made for social justice by record-breaking new jobs and an end to emigration. Additionally, the enterprise society delivers the tax revenue that has allowed the Government to increase the old age pension from a mere £78 per week in 1997 to £106 now, and to double health spending.
The Progressive Democrats' record on social justice is second to none - Yours, etc.,
Cllr Tim O'Malley, Limerick.