ECB letters show the depth of farce to which we sank

How kind and benevolent of the ECB to publish four letters regarding our stroll to the gallows of a bailout. The correspondence from its then president, Jean-Claude Trichet, to Brian Lenihan, illustrates the complete implosion of our fiscal system, which led to years of austerity, wholesale tax increases and poverty.

Finance minister Brian Lenihan and taoiseach Brian Cowen, Ireland’s answer to Laurel and Hardy (cue the theme tune), were far too incompetent and out of their depth to even try to get a better financial deal on the interest we were made to pay back for the pecuniary assistance.

Another fine mess – in billions of euros and cent.

Vincent O’Connell,

New Ross, Co. Wexford.

Troubled waters

It is clear in the matter of water that confusion reigns. The government is confused about what an acceptable charge is. Irish Water is so confused that it has told people phoning to register that the callers’ addresses do not exist.

The public is confused in that some say they will not pay for water while others say they are paying for it already.

Some of our water is not fit to drink. Up to 40% of treated water is lost through burst pipes, so something needs to be done.

The local authorities in charge up to now were not able to fix the problem. Maybe Bord Uisce will fare better. I have my fingers crossed. Brendan Hurley, Nursery Drive, Cork.

Pension inequity

I have spent in excess of 35 years of my life in paid employment, including a period of 17 years in the UK. During all of this time I was a fully compliant taxpayer but relied on my employers to compute and deduct the correct amount of income tax, National Insurance, PRSI, USC etc, from my salary.

C Williamson’s letter (MoS, November 2) describes almost exactly my own situation (whereby those receiving pensions from abroad are treated as self-employed for tax purposes).

However, to add insult to injury in my case, Revenue demanded that I pay preliminary tax on not just my small UK Pension but also on my Irish State Pension, leaving it to me to decide on how I should calculate my liability.

This had to be paid in full by October 31 at the latest in order to avoid penalties and interest.

Whoever is responsible for directing that pensioners should be treated as self-employed is perverse. The finance minister must look at this urgently and return equity to the system.

John O’Hare, Galway.

Remember, Enda?

‘The people are in charge. Governments may govern but it is the people who rule.’ So said Enda Kenny in Co. Donegal on the eve of the 2011 general election. Just thought I’d mention it.

Tom Burke, Clonsilla, Dublin 15.

Bank bonuses

I’m shocked to see that bonuses and pay rises are returning for staff at Bank of Ireland (MoS, November 2). Without the bailout, they’d all be out of a job.

If the bank does find itself returning to profit and having money to spare, that could be put to much better use by cutting interest rates on mortgages, which would help many customers.

Angela Donnelly, Co. Cork.

Fascinating life

I had never heard of Martin Bengtsson before (‘Meet Martin, The CIA/MI6 recruit’, MoS, November 2). He has certainly led an interesting and unbelievable life. I’ve ordered his book as I am curious and fascinated.

Brianán McBride, Dundalk.

Jumping the gun

Amnesty International Ireland would like to correct an error in the article ‘Amnesty to study Irish abortion legislation’ (MoS, November 2).

The article concerned our current research on the human rights abuses flowing from Ireland’s denial of abortion in circumstances where human rights law requires it to be legal and accessible, and from Ireland’s criminalisation of abortion in all circumstances except risk to life.

The article states : ‘Describing Ireland’s law as “a restrictive legal framework”, she (Amnesty’s spokeswoman) said it has been shown to affect how maternity care is delivered.’

This is not an accurate reflection of our position.

What we did say was that in many parts of the world, a restrictive legal framework on abortion has been shown to have significant effects on the delivery of reproductive healthcare, particularly maternity services, as healthcare professionals may shift their priority to safeguarding the pregnancy rather than prioritising the pregnant woman’s health needs.

Therefore, part of our research on Ireland will include examining how the legal framework shapes the treatment of pregnant women, even in situations not directly related to abortion.

Colm O’Gorman, executive director, Amnesty International Ireland.