Organisation: Raheens Carrigaline Co Cork

A COMPREHENSIVE SERIES OF ARTICLES ON THIS TOPIC

columnists

Restore medical card for all previous holders by resetting means-test limit

Civil servants rightly demand restoration of their wages to pre-austerity levels. Their trade unions will argue their case well, but who will fight for the rights of the old, sick, and poor?

Irish Water can, and should, repay customers

No longer common cents in old money

There are other ways to skin a taxpayer

We can all do our bit to help the homeless

Citizens are one remove from being barcoded

Why are ordinary workers still being made to pay?

The minimum wage became law in 2000. Eleven years elapsed before the Government capped the pay of senior civil servants at €200,000 per year. The income distribution statistics for 2011, compiled by the Revenue Commissioners, make interesting reading. Half of all taxpayers accounted for one-fifth of gross incomes.

Sat, 11 Oct, 2014

Poor should receive rightful share of wealth

The Occupy movement erupted in several major cities across the world in 2011 but fizzled out in 2012. Their slogan was ‘We are the 99%’. That simple fact is still true today.

Thu, 29 May, 2014

We’re paying heavy price for capitalism

In Jun 2010 the Government negotiated the Croke Park Agreement with the public sector trade unions.

Mon, 17 Sep, 2012

Ireland a nation of two halves

The recent report from the Irish League of Credit Unions should be a call to stir the nation’s conscience.

Fri, 13 Jul, 2012

How many presidents do we really need?

YOUR recent editorial (November 15) was spot-on.

Thu, 17 Nov, 2011

Compassion a priority

THE INDEX numbers published by the CSO summarise price rises quite well, but for a measure of austerity, convert them into real money.

Sat, 29 Oct, 2011

Economic crisis adds up to a zero sum game

THE zero on my keyboard is more exhausted than a spin-doctor.

Mon, 06 Dec, 2010

Extra marks for maths

WITH respect to Dr Florence Craven’s letter (‘Bad Maths’, October 15), the universities do not reward failure in higher level mathematics.

Mon, 01 Nov, 2010

Orwellian Ireland: wake up and smell the slop

WHO remembers Hall’s Pictorial Weekly on RTÉ television? That was long before they scrapped Scratch Saturday and delisted Bull Island.

Fri, 08 Oct, 2010

Orwellian Ireland: wake up and smell the slop

WHO remembers Hall’s Pictorial Weekly on RTÉ television? That was long before they scrapped Scratch Saturday and delisted Bull Island.

Fri, 08 Oct, 2010

Why not introduce a maximum legal wage?

YOU quoted an economist from Goodbody (September 7) as saying the top 4% of earners pay close to 48% of all income tax.

Mon, 20 Sep, 2010

Risky hospitals

SIXTY years ago nearly every small town in Ireland had its own small hospital. In those days we never heard of MRSA.

Sat, 12 Jun, 2010

Bailout bond is a hostage to fortune

APPARENTLY, some people already have euro signs flickering in their eyes. Your front page (April 30) thundered: ‘Bond to bail out state offers 50% return in 10 years’.

Wed, 12 May, 2010

Fat tax would be thin end of the wedge

I DISAGREE with Kevin Breslin’s proposal to extend Michael O’Leary’s plans for a “fat tax” on his aircraft to other modes of public transport (Letters, February 17).

Tue, 23 Feb, 2010

After the thaw

WHERE will all the water go when the snow melts?

Tue, 12 Jan, 2010

Bonus but no basic

I WOULD be all in favour of bonus payments to the top managers in the banks and in the various branches of the public services, provided they got nothing else.

Wed, 25 Nov, 2009

Banks raised the stakes in fantasy money league

THERE was a time when people could withdraw only €20 and €10 notes from ATMs. Then, some years ago, the banks created fantasy wealth when they programmed their machines to give out only €50 and €20 notes.

Thu, 10 Sep, 2009

Recovery recipe: know when you have enough

IN George Orwell’s novel Nineteen Eighty-Four, the Ministry of Peace wages war.

Tue, 18 Aug, 2009

Invidious comparison of wage rates

COMPARISONS of public and private sector wage rates are invidious.

Mon, 06 Jul, 2009

Money is funny, so let’s rename the euro

EVERY day the newspaper headlines highlight millions, billions and trillions of euro.

Mon, 22 Jun, 2009

Why abuse compensation deal should be torn up

REALITY bites. At last, the people of Ireland realise they were conned . Quite rightly, they want to renegotiate the deal done with the religious orders.

Wed, 27 May, 2009