Report dealt with political cutbacks

IS it really too much to expect that people would take the time actually to read the McCarthy report before writing to newspapers to pontificate about its contents?

Bill O’Sullivan tells us the report “made no mention of … our overpaid, overstaffed, underworked politicians” (Letters, Julys 31).

If Mr O’Sullivan had bothered to read the report, he would have seen that Colm McCarthy actually devotes a full 10 pages to cutbacks in TDs’ and ministers’ pay, pensions and expenses, staffing of the Dáil and Seanad, and the cost of maintaining Leinster House itself.

He even goes so far as to make ludicrous suggestions such as abolishing the Seanad.

The amounts saved through these proposed cutbacks are paltry.

In fact, if we abolished the Dáil and Seanad and closed down Leinster House, we would save €120m per annum.

Where does this stand against the €400m being borrowed by the Government every week?

Barry Walsh

Brooklawn

Clontarf

Dublin 3