To get the real story, read between the lines

AS is usual with spin doctors, one must examine what is not said, as opposed to what is said, to fully inform oneself of the point that is being made.

So when Fergus Finlay (Irish Examiner, September 14) accuses the Government of being “opportunistic” in rebalancing tax bands and tax-free allowances, remember that it has successfully ridden out the storms of the worldwide stock market collapse of 2000 and the two catastrophic events of 2001 - foot-and-mouth and 9/11 - which caused worldwide stagnation until the beginning of this year.

Not only has the Government ridden out those debilitating events but they also succumbed to the near-bankrupting benchmarking process cobbled together by the trades union cohort associated with Mr Finlay and his party.

While giving disproportionate wealth to public servants, this has meant that other borderline middle-income taxpayers have drifted into the higher tax rate band.

When the electorate last voted in a socialist government (1982-1987, led by Garret Fitzgerald), with Labour as junior partner, the national debt doubled to €30 billion. That debt has remained more or less static ever since - ie, we have stopped borrowing for current spending - but we have paid approximately €50 billion (continuing) on servicing it.

Eoin McMahon

Northumberland Road

Dublin 4