As an animal lover I fully endorse the sentiments expressed by Chris McCarthy (Letters, Aug 20).

For the last decade or more employers have been demolishing defined and guaranteed benefit pension plans in favour of defined contribution plans where the employees make the investment decisions and take the investment risk.

The household charge is developing into one of the biggest fiascos ever.

As a Leaving Cert student I believe that the introduction of bonus points for higher level maths has not only affected students who wish to study in the areas of science and maths, it has manipulated the entire points system.

Victoria White (Opinion, Aug 16) boldly rushes in where angelic men fear to tread.

Charlie told us to tighten our belts and Enda says roll up your sleeves.

In response to Mr Simon Coveney’s statement (Irish Examiner, Aug 15) in which he stated there was no action or job plan to solve the unemployed problem, may I suggest the introduction of a new water system would give employment to thousands.

Following my attendance at Beal Na mBláth for the commemoration ceremonies, along with 4,000 others, I wish to convey my appreciation and gratitude to being part of such a historic event in Irish history.

Ecuador is entitled to grant asylum to Julian Assange.

I suppose nothing should surprise us anymore but I was a little shocked to see Fergus Finlay (Aug 21) extolling the virtues of Ronan Lyons; admitting that he looks to Mr Lyons’s website as a source of understandable information on matters to do with distributive justice, etc.