MICHAEL McCarthy (Letters, Dec 3) states that “public service employees are not being asked to contribute on the same scale as the rest of us” to “the bailout”.

WE refer to Cormac O’Keeffe’s moving article in your newspaper (Dec 5) and to the findings of a study by psychiatrist Dr Sayed Irtaza Hussein, which points to the high rates of psychiatric illness among asylum seekers, and to the fact that the centre where they live is “like a prison”.

RECENTLY, I have noted that our ship of state is now often being compared to the ill-fated RMS Titanic.

THE different arguments debated on the budget highlights the various interests involved and the political footballs that emanate from these arguments.

DURING his so-called address to the nation, Enda Kenny said: “To make sure we keep as many jobs as we can, to make sure you get to bring home as much as you can, and to make sure you know where you stand with your wages.

AFTER watching Dame Enda’s speech Sunday night, I’m no longer worried about crippling austerity or mass emigration nor am I scared of a 15% unemployment rate because our great leader eased my fears.

YOUR recent editorial comment (Nov 30) relating to teachers is a curious mix of inaccuracy, misinformation and omissions.

OF late I have also arrived at the conclusion that our country does indeed require an immediate and severe crackdown on those contemptible individuals who cheat, defraud and effectively loot our public finances due to our well-established culture of entitlement.

LISTENING to Public Expenditure Minister Brendan Howlin, and Taoiseach Enda Kenny slaughter the English language by turning the meaning of words such as “fair” and “just” upside down, the words of William Shakespeare came to mind: “I can suck melancholy out of a song, as a weasel sucks eggs.”

ITALIAN Prime Minister Mario Monti has announced he will not take a salary for next year as part of his austerity plan for the nation.