It’s sad when Irish people let themselves down, and last week the ‘Dáil Lockout’ protesters embarrassed us.

Victoria White (Opinion, Sept 19) makes a compelling case for welcoming new arrivals to this country. Having spent 32 years living in various countries, I agree with the comments.

Your recent front page headline, ‘Austerity filling the pockets of Ireland’s richest’ (Sept 12), confirms the previous evidence of our Government’s support for the wealthy at the expense of the middle and lower classes.

The coming referendum should give voters the opportunity of getting our bureaucratic system reduced to what a country like ours can afford.

Your otherwise excellent coverage of the German elections was undermined by the description of Angela Merkel, and her Christian Democratic Union (CDU), as “conservatives”.

Arthur’s Day, hopefully, will become an annual no-alcohol day, in remembrance of people destroyed by it.

Victoria White’s (Opinion, Sept 19) is a typical response to a politician concerned about his constituents. If the matter relates to race or religion, dismiss the politician or his constituents as bigots.

Seldom has an RTÉ TV programme evoked such interest as A Life in Food, about chef Myrtle Allen, which was broadcast on Sept 3. Allen is highly praised.

The City Council made a hames of the Irish translation of ‘English Market’, with the assistance of ‘Google Translate’, and had to replace the ‘made-in-England’ signs.

Can someone explain to me the logic of Bus Éireann ticket prices?