NEITHER this Government nor the younger generation have previously experienced a serious recession because this is the first time in more than 20 years that we have had one and so our ability to deal with it is questionable.

WHY should we be brainwashed by all kinds of people and organisations as to how we should vote in the Lisbon Treaty? It is our democratic right to decide, after being properly informed.

BIANCA JAGGER’S climate analysis feature (January 1) should take the prize for new year doom-and-gloom.

JAMES A GLEESON (Letters, September 11) may be right when he complains that we in Ireland are losing our hard won independence through “a transfer of more power to the EU”.

MUCH has changed in Europe since the Nice Treaty but not, it seems, the jaded and misleading arguments of the EU nay-sayers like James A Gleeson (Letters, September 11).

ARE we a nation of suckers being brainwashed and blindly led up the garden path by hard-necked bureaucrats controlling the creeping EU giant?

JAMES A GLEESON (Letters, May 19) is mistaken in his contention that the e-voting machines purchased by the Government have passed the test.

WHAT was to be lost in putting the €50m e-voting machines to the test?

IT is consoling to note the Taoiseach has shown awareness of the necessity for constitutional change or amendment to protect the rights of young people; even, if necessary, giving a referendum political priority.

I WAS amazed to hear on a recent RTÉ1 programme, and in press reports, dealing with inefficiency, unacceptable procedures and malpractices in hospitals, that the use of a whistleblower in the health service was even thought worthy of discussion.

THE move to introduce equal risk to the health insurance market is a disgrace.

YOUR correspondent James A Gleeson (Irish Examiner letters, August 8) is obviously right when he asserts that the number of motorcycle fatalities in this country is far too high.

RECENTLY published facts on road accidents show 223 people have died on our roads this year, comprising 34 pedestrians, 48 passengers, 97 drivers, four cyclists, 38 motorcyclists and two pillion passengers.

TO EXPECT ratification of the EU constitution on a Yes/No ballot is undemocratic and a waste of time and money.

WHY are the media, Government, stockbrokers, bankers and economists all so worried about the €16 billion SSIA savings to be released to their rightful owners next year?

WE can only hope that Taoiseach Bertie Ahern’s latest mercy plea for Irish-born kidnapped aid worker Margaret Hassan is more successful, and brings more influence to bear, than was regrettably the case with his intercession for former hostage Kenneth Bigley.

THE recent scandals involving AIB and NIB came as no great surprise.

THERE is no ‘ban’ on smoking. Everybody can smoke as much as they like, when they like. Using the word ‘ban’ is misleading. What is in place is a law that forbids smoking in designated areas.

IT would be nice if John Magnier and JP McManus ended their equine vendetta with Sir Alex. They must realise by now that Old Trafford, home to one of the world’s most renowned and much loved football clubs, is not the best ground for “horse-play”.

HOW can Tony Blair and George Bush justify their recent expression of satisfaction that the war has ended successfully and Iraq is free?

TWICE in the past few weeks newspapers have highlighted significant moves in relation to the role of Church and State.

I AM responding to the letter published in the Irish Examiner of January 20 from James A Gleeson, of Thurles, Co Tipperary.

RECENTLY the Irish Business and Employers Confederation (IBEC) suggested workers should accept pay rises less than the current inflation rate, to drop Irish prices to the 2% eurozone level of the eurozone.