An article on Monday, Aug 19, in the Irish Examiner re the reduction of State pensions, will infuriate every OAP in the country who in the 1970s and ’80s had more than 60% deducted from their wages with a combination of income tax and PRSI.

In his article ‘Stronger Action Needed’, Tim Pat Coogan (Irish Examiner, Aug 22) blames corrupt and lazy politicians, senior civil servants, bankers, businessmen, lawyers, accountants and stockholders for Ireland’s affliction. But he has overlooked the dreaded fiscal triads, who scoured city streets and rural roads seeking mortgagees.

Bill O’Herlihy and Mary O’Rourke were born about 15 years after the slaying of Michael Collins and the ravages of the brutal Civil War, both of which must inevitably influence their perception of the political landscape, ambition and sense of idealism.

The theme is familiar regarding the proposed hospice at Magheramore, Co Wicklow. Everybody, from the Columban Sisters to Daniel Day Lewis to civic society groups, have done their bit to get it built. The only party that hasn’t is the public sector-operated HSE.

In response to Fr Butler’s letter (Aug 23) about rebel Cork, and Cork supporting Perkin Warbeck’s claim to the English throne: some four years before Warbeck’s claim, Lambert Simnel also was proclaimed king in Cork, thought by some to be one or other of the princes in the Tower, and was accompanied to London to seize the throne, by the mayor and officials of Cork.

Your correspondent Michael Moriarty (‘The threat from fundamentalists’, Irish Examiner, Aug 20) is basically arguing against doing anything to assist the four Irish citizens detained in Cairo. In doing so, he makes at least three unwarranted assumptions.

I read with interest the piece by Matt Cooper ‘We need to put our children first and filter internet pornography’ (Aug 23) in which he raised points about the impact access to harmful pornography can have on children and questioned why Ireland is not legitimately investigating ways to protect children from such materials, as has been happening in recent times in the UK.

A trend has developed in Gaelic football where goalkeepers often trot up more than half the field to take a free kick. This tactic wastes valuable time and slows down the game. There must be a rule against it somewhere in the rulebook. If not, there should be.

I am concerned deeply that the Government is recommending the abolition of Seanad Éireann.

Minister Eamon Gilmore has been very active and very visible in promoting the right to protest and to fair treatment of Irish citizens in Egypt.