I would like to inform Thomas Ryan (Letters, Oct 5) that there is nothing extraordinary about Irish people calling for banks to lend to small and medium size businesses and others hoping to start up in self employment, while at the same time calling for no more taxpayers money to be flushed away on bondholders via the banks.

Mr Noel Magnier’s comments regarding the events surrounding Arthur’s Day cloud the real issues and is the another excellent example of how we, as a nation, refuse to really look in the collective mirror and take control of our country’s destiny.

Further to recent articles in the Irish Examiner on the issue of TDs’ expenses, these politicians should be stopped drawing these vulgar pensions immediately.

Your editorial (Oct 2) on the subject of whether child benefit should go to well-paid people raises the question of why child benefit is not subject to income tax.

It really annoys me when RTE presenter Paddy Gorman interviews people in queues waiting for so-called social welfare.

I am writing in relation to the point made by religious orders recently in your paper, when they said that accepting a 50:50 share of the Redress Bill would imply they are all to blame for abuse.

Upon attending The Gathering forum at Cork City Hall recently to see the procedure and hear the proposals set out from the large attendance, it was great to hear some exciting proposals.

Let me begin by congratulating Conor Ryan for his excellent piece (Oct 1) on highlighting the difficulties between the Government and the religious orders over the payment of a 50/50 share of redress to people abused in industrial institutions.

The new policy being launched by the Dublin Archdiocese means parents will have to attend a number of Sunday Masses during the year before their children can receive the Sacrament.

Why all the fuss about the health service?