Madam, - Donal de Butléir is to be congratulated for his instructive comparison of Irish and EU taxation levels (Business News, December 1st).
While his analysis allows for differences in expenditure patterns between ourselves and our EU neighbours on items such as infrastructure, pensions, and defence, clearly shows that, at 34.7 per cent, the overall tax burden in Ireland is almost 6 per cent below the EU average when adjusted for GNP/GDP differentials.
Although Mr de Butléir argues against raising tax, surely his own figures demonstrate that we can afford a modest increase in taxation to allow the poorest and most vulnerable in our society to have an income above the poverty level. - Yours, etc.,
FRAN SIMPSON, Beechlawns, Johnswell Road, Kilkenny.