DESPITE the hyperbole, the fact remains that the social welfare rates announced in the budget are the same as those in place in 2007, and the cost of living has fallen significantly since then.

THE policies adopted by the Government because of their dependence on the IMF, EU and ECB are becoming too pro-cyclical, hindering the growth and therefore the future economic prosperity of the country.

FINE Gael and Labour have effectively sounded the death knell for many of our small rural schools through their decision to raise pupil/teacher ratio in these schools on a phased basis.

I WAS grieved to read that an inquest into the deaths of two elderly women in Co Donegal in September 2009 revealed the deaths were most likely caused by a defect in a Beko Flavel model gas cooker.

HELLO my name is Martin.

I REFER to your front page story in yesterday’s edition (Dec 9) concerning the Criminal Law (Defence and the Dwelling) Bill 2010.

THE last few days have been dominated by the budget. Fresh from all that Enda Kenny and team are attending the EU summit in Brussels and what might be their last chance to salvage what is left of Ireland’s fiscal and political independence.

AM I alone in wondering why An Post is using licence payers’ money to run a television advertising campaign portraying rich people ridiculing poor people having difficulty paying their TV licence?

FRANK Conway’s piece (Analysis, Dec 8) on whether to continue to buy private health insurance or not was informative and all the more depressing for that.

AS a practising Roman Catholic and proud to be so, I am appalled at the bias in reporting by certain sections of the media in regard to our clergy.