Robin Hood approach needed

IT IS a week before Christmas and Mr Hogan is issuing warnings about paying the €100 household charge before the end of March next year.

Threats have been issued before exemption lists — an approach consistent with horror stories leaked before the Budget.We badly need a Robin Hood in what seems like a deliberate lording and power-wielding approach by this government. The reality is that many so called “homeowners” are in fact mortgage payers and the home is owned by the bank or building society. People trying to own their home are being targeted, based on some naive assumption that they have a greater ability to pay than those renting.

This is not a tax on wealth but a way of forcing families to contribute €100 towards the government coffers. For example, 350 families will pay €100 for just one adviser’s salary in excess of the government’s own cap of €93,000. Others will have to find €100 and will have to let go health insurance policies because of rising costs due to Dr Reilly’s plan to make insurance companies pay for public health treatment for people who have health insurance. Meanwhile, Mr Shatter seems to find it impossible to appoint a highly-paid professional who is not a FG supporter.

We will have a referendum on treaty change if there is a legal requirement only, according to the Taoiseach.

We see speculators continuing to make money on Anglo, while austerity hurts those of us, not highly-paid Fine Gael professionals! Taxation on speculation and a real European Central Bank that regulates and inspects banking in the eurozone with teeth to impose personal fines on bankers and acts as a lender of last resort is the way forward. The balance of payments discipline is the icing on the cake, no matter what Merkel tells you Enda.

Caitríona McClean

Weston Ave

Lucan

Co Dublin