Proper decisions even if they are painful
Friday December 11 2009
It was a seriously tough Budget with very difficult decisions taken, hurting my income and that of the majority of Irish citizens.
That said, I do have this strange feeling of a kind of relief that the hard decisions are now being taken, and that this will be the beginning of the road to recovery, sooner rather than later.
Ironically, I noticed last night on British TV that commentators are commending the Irish Government for taking the hard decisions, while the British government just long fingered its own tough medicine yesterday, which is seen as a major mistake.
Strange indeed, but maybe we have actually done the right thing for once, even if forced through no choice.
So, a strange kind of day it was.
Bad Budget for us all, but the correct decisions made.
Brian Cooper
Old Youghal Road, CORK
As usual Brian Lenihan is a man of contradictions.
He justifies cuts in social welfare by telling us prices have fallen and swiftly inflates those prices by increasing tax on petrol and diesel -- the surest way of inflating prices right across the board.
He increases the drugs payment cost by €20 a month; is this to finance his very generous Christmas present to smokers and drinkers in his Budget treatment of alcohol and tobacco, encouraging the use of both and adding to the country's health problems?
He then tells us: "The worst is over. We have turned a corner," and in his next breath tells us we can look forward to property and water taxes next year! Under the Constitution, the judiciary and the President's salaries cannot be touched.
Why, when we voted on the Lisbon Treaty for the second time within a year, did this shambolic Government not take the opportunity of having a second referendum on the same day, to amend the Constitution so that these salaries can be cut?
The President's voluntary pay cut and Brian Cowen's pay cut do little to impress when both will still earn more than Barack Obama.
Given the size and population of Ireland, €100,000 per annum is the maximum pay justifiable to the President and the Taoiseach.
David Bradley
Drogheda, Co Louth
Irish Independent
