Given the state of things, I was lucky to leave

AS a native of Cork, I am following the sad progress of the Irish meltdown on your website.

I want to compliment you on the quality of your paper. My dad was one of your reporters from before I was born until 1946 and manager of your Dublin office until he died in 1967.

I am appalled by the news that retiring TDs are getting hefty payouts and pensions. How can that sort of largesse and profligacy be condoned in a country that is almost bankrupt?