IF former Taoiseach Garret FitzGerald was at the helm of our country for the past 15 years, even at his advanced years, we would not now be at the mercy of an EU and IMF bailout.

WELL done to letter writer Mary Harris (May 21).

THE Obama-mania sweeping through the Irish Government, the media and the general public (apparently) needs some moderation, particularly in relation to US foreign policy.

IN ALL my 45 years as a public representative, I have never witnessed until now the mental strain and anxiety amongst the business community as they struggle financially to meet rents, rates, leases and income tax. This mental strain has sent many of them to an early grave.

THE price of petrol and diesel fuel is playing a large part in driving inflation. The boffins who calculate these things across the EU know this and yet they are proposing to increase the interest rates, which is negatively affecting economies across the EU.

THE imposition of a levy on private pension funds is a troubling straw in the wind where the new government is concerned.

FOR all those who have spent any time in hospital, I know you appreciate the work that healthcare assistants do.

IT IS difficult to understand how a man of such enormous energy, charisma and personal magnetism as Barack Obama, billed as “the most powerful man in the world”, is unable to overcome the malign forces pitted against him in his own country.