The Minister for Finance announced in the 2012 Budget that for individuals who purchased their first principal private residence on or after Jan 1, 2004, and on or before Dec 31, 2008, the rate of tax relief on the interest paid on the loan to purchase that property will, for the tax years 2012 to 2017, be 30%.

While Premiership footballer Fabrice Muamba bravely recovers in hospital, it seems we are reminded about incidents of Sudden Adult Death Syndrome (SADS) all too often.

Ireland is not alone in seeing corruption and dishonesty at the core of government. We have seen it in Italy, France, Germany, the UK and the United States, to name a few.

It’s hardly surprising that poor Baby the elephant made a bid for freedom in Cork City from the misery of her circus prison (Irish Examiner, Mar 28).

Our politicians should stop condescending to us with regard to the ‘household charge’ farce.

Taoiseach Enda Kenny expects people to “measure up” “obey the law” and pay the €100 household charge.

In his dissertation ‘Putting a mirror up to Irish society’ Ivan Yates highlights what he sees as some uncomfortable truths (Opinion, Mar 29).

I have a dirty little secret; I’ve paid the household charge.

The household charge would be better balanced if the well-to-do people living in ghost estates, or so-called ghost estates, would also pay.

As an Irish citizen and taxpayer I call on your TDs to create new Irish gas and petroleum bonds.