I refer to Niall Ryan’s letter (Dec 15) in which he argues for a vote for independent candidates in forthcoming elections.

Your recent editorial berates the government for not introducing a sugar tax instead of cutting respite care.

I wish to make one point in the aftermath of the school shooting massacre in Newton, Connecticut, and following President Obama’s latest speech in regard to some drastic initiatives that will need to be implemented to revamp the personal firearm laws of America.

Cathal Ahern’s letter (Dec 11) is typical of all anti-public sector rants, big on bluff, bluster and rhetoric, but seriously lacking in facts or balance.

My heart goes out to the parents and families of the children and teachers who lost their lives in Newtown, Connecticut.

Matt Cooper (Opinion, Dec 14) aims an arrow straight and true with his valid, jaundiced commentary at a recent key property acquisition —“Larry Goodman’s purchase of the old Bank of Ireland headquarters on Baggot Street in Dublin.”

If the USA had stringent gun laws, and school massacres were happening here or in Europe because we had an American-style gun culture, the USA would now be bombarding the world’s airwaves lecturing us on how and why we should get our act together.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank the Supreme Court of Ireland for upholding the sovereignty of the Irish people in the McCrystal decision.

I listened with horror to the news of a possible sell-off of Aer Lingus LHR slots to IAG by Ryanair.

As someone who has studied prostitution and the harm and misery for the women involved, I think it is time that this highly lucrative industry, from which traffickers and prostitution agencies profit, was curbed.