Ebola fundraiser - Worthy cause

Thirty years after the original Band Aid was launched to raise money to feed the world, a new recording has been made with the aim of helping the battle against ebola.

Stars, including the indefatigable Bob Geldof, who is again organising this worthy cause, have come together once more to form a powerful choir to raise funds for another deserving charity.

Among those behind the reworked version of ‘Do They Know It’s Christmas?’ are such names from the world of pop music as One Direction, Bono, Emeli Sande, Rita Ora, Ed Sheeran, Ellie Goulding, Sam Smith, and Chris Martin. True to form, Bob Geldof has challenged the German government to put money towards this praise-worthy project.

He urged the choir to be aware that “when you sing this, be aware that the rest of the world will be singing with you”. The fact that decent, hard-working people will contribute to this admirable effort should not be used as an excuse to let national governments off the hook.

The Irish Government should follow the UK example by waiving Vat on the single.