Pensioners paid high taxes in previous era

An article on Monday, Aug 19, in the Irish Examiner re the reduction of State pensions, will infuriate every OAP in the country who in the 1970s and ’80s had more than 60% deducted from their wages with a combination of income tax and PRSI.

Let us not forget that employees on the PAYE system were being robbed, while much wealthier business people and professionals often reneged and only paid taxes if they chose to do so.

In my own case, employees had no option where overtime was concerned, because our employers’ rules stated overtime was compulsory. We were all skilled workers and we often had to often work many hours in excess of the normal 40-hour, five-day week, and also at weekends.