It has been reported in an Irish newspaper that a “refugee” family are demanding to be settled in Germany or they will go back to Syria.

The media — newspapers, television and radio — have all highlighted the evil activities of a minority of priests or religious but seldom is there much coverage given to clergy who are subjected to threats from unscrupulous people who demand money or else they will claim to have been abused by the priest in question.

We have written to the Minister for Finance, Michael Noonan concerning the Inheritance Tax threshold which is at €225,000 since 2012 having been reduced from €542,000 which was set in 2009.

In his recent TV programme David McWilliams went to London - a centre of colonial power for centuries - to get someone to denounce this small democracy and former colony as a ‘pariah state’.

I would like to thank President Michael D Higgins for highlighting the lack of social housing being built by city and county councils and how they should be ashamed of their inaction.

Note the headlines side-by-side on the editorial page ( Irish Examiner, September 22). “Abortion law is too strict, say farmers” and “We need to spend more money giving all children a better start”. It left me confused.

If, as is suggested, €10,000 is being paid per refugee to get to Europe, a boat overloaded with 600 people, could provide criminal gangs with €6,000,000.

Now, with another budget in the offing the Government has proposed to reduce that most unpopular tax — the USC — by two per cent so as a result of which those earning €70,000 or more will benefit to the tune of €1,000 per annum, while those earning €35,000-70,000 will receive a meagre €350.

As Rory O’Callaghan stated (Irish Examiner, Letters, September 22), the state ceremonies for 1916 patriot Thomas Kent were very well planned and carried out.

I refer to the article “A persistent social crisis that is not all in our heads”, in which some of my thoughts were mentioned (Irish Examiner, September 21).