Taxation policies in a time of uncertainty

Distributive injustice

Sir, – Mark Mohan would have us believe that Ireland is a land of fairness based on the opinion that our income tax and welfare systems are progressive (Letters, August 13th)

Whether that is true or not is irrelevant; the issue is what people’s living standards are and the fact is that many are struggling and that is because we continue to tolerate a huge disparity in incomes and wealth distribution here. Without the welfare system over half the population would live in poverty. That fact tells us that a huge proportion of the population is depending on support in what is regarded as one of the wealthiest countries in Europe. It also tells us what the cause is, distributive injustice. No one chooses to live in such circumstances and a stroll down any city or town in Ireland today exposes one to the depressing reality of life for many. There is a solution – we must share what have more fairly.

JIM O’SULLIVAN ,

Rathedmond,

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Sligo.