In Brief: Wacky . . . Quango . . . Quality of life . . . Tolls
- The Bishop of Killaloe, Dr Willie Walsh, has appealed to Catholics to stay away from a predicted apparition of the Virgin Mary in Knock on December 5 because it doesn't make any sense that she would announce her future travel plans and therefore "goes away from the rational" (Irish Independent, November 4).
But the notion of immaculate conception, original sin, virgin birth, walking on water, turning water into wine, and being raised from the dead -- these are totally rational? Only in the wonderfully wacky world of religion.
Gary J Byrne
IFSC, Dublin 1
- I would love to know why the OECD thinks social welfare is coming "too close" to a basic salary. Is it not enough that its bureaucratic Parisian chateau is too removed from the lives of many millions, without telling Finance Minister Brian Lenihan how to punish already set-upon people?
The OECD then advises that "nationalisation of the banks must be a last resort". It sounds like the OECD is just another massive quango we can do without!
Dr Florence Craven
Maynooth, Co Kildare
- During the past 10 or so "tiger" years, I noticed a decrease in the friendliness, quality and uniqueness of Irish life while our so-called standard of living was said to be on the rise.
Now that the OECD and others have announced a reduction in living standards for years to come, can I expect a slow return to that former Ireland?
K Nolan
Carrick-on-Shannon
- I was wondering whether, as the country is experiencing a period of sustained deflation, we hard-pressed drivers can now expect a reduction in toll-road fees?
For years, the toll road companies and the NRA justified increases by citing inflation, so surely the reverse should happen now?
Richard McCormack
Knocklyon, Dublin 16
Irish Independent
