Madam, - At least the Labour Party's proposal to reduce the standard rate of tax is a serious one, based on ideology, and aimed at people on lower incomes.
There is no ideology behind the Taoiseach's announcement concerning tax and PRSI. He is simply telling people, rich and poor, to go off and buy themselves something nice.
Money is being given away for no reason, other than to buy an election. One feels like a 19th- century native being given a handful of glass beads by a coloniser. Is this how the Taoiseach sees the electorate? - Yours, etc,
HUGH CAREY, Portacarron, Ballymoneen Road, Galway.
Madam, - In recent weeks, Fianna Fáil luminaries from Seamus Brennan to Brian Cowen have scolded the opposition for making wide-ranging commitments on tax reform and public services, accusing them of "auction politics". This makes the Taoiseach's ardfheis speech all the more worrying.
Mr Ahern effectively promised to implement Fine Gael's tax policies for families, carers and homemakers, Labour's policy on the lower rate of income tax and the Green Party's policy on tax credits and bands and went half-way to meeting the PDs' policy on the higher rate. In addition, he promised to slash PRSI while miraculously expanding PRSI benefits such as the State pension.
Fianna Fáil's approach to economic policy in this election seems to be a case of "whatever they are offering and some". As an election candidate, I had hoped for a June election to allow me more time to get around my constituency. However, as a citizen and taxpayer I am now praying for an election as early as possible lest the Taoiseach loses the run of himself and transports us all back to the ruinous vote-buying politics of 1977. - Yours, etc,
LEO VARADKAR (FG), Rosehaven, Carpenterstown, Dublin 15.
Madam, - So if Bertie wins the election, he's going to sort out health and crime. Can't wait. I just wish he'd made it into power years ago. - Yours etc.,
GARRY CLARKE, Spricklestown, The Ward, Co Dublin.