Writing from Qatar, Billy McEllligott (Letters, Mar 14) appears to be out of touch with events on the ground in Ireland, particularly in relation to the public mood of the electorate and who they wish to be governed by.

I agree with Declan Keaveney (Letters, Mar 14) that there is an official and societal denial that men are also victims of domestic abuse.

I recently had the privilege of visiting Kenmare, Co Kerry one midweek morning.

Micheál Martin hit the nail on the head when he said in the Dáil recently that the promissory notes are a justice issue.

As we face into the last two weeks before the deadline for payment of the household charge, it is inevitable that there will be an intensified advertising campaign on behalf of the Government to both encourage and intimidate people to register and pay.

I have just returned from Donegal where I interviewed a number of people not looking forward to today’s St Patrick’s Day celebrations.

It is disappointing to read the fatuous pre-Twickenham remarks made by Messrs Ferris and Kearney.

The remarks by EU Economic Commissioner Olli Rehn to the effect that Ireland should not question the squandering of over €3.1bn to pay back promissory notes to speculators in a dead bank is the latest masterclass in arrogance, courtesy of the country’s new EU overlords (Irish Examiner, Mar 14).

Michael Clifford’s column (Opinion, Mar 10) about the household charges was nothing short of disgraceful.

Some day banks will reawaken to the fact that the personal touch combined with a small bit of courtesy make good business sense.