Sir, – Liz Truss to Sir Graham Brady: “Would a temporary eviction ban work?” – Yours, etc,
AIDAN RODDY,
Cabinteely,
Dublin 18.
Shooting the breeze with trailblazer chemists
Kamala Harris is a descendant of an Irish slave owner in Jamaica
Tactical analysis: Clare got their numbers right, but it’s hard to measure sheer magic
Artist and shepherd Orla Barry: ‘Breeding animals is like making an artwork. You’re putting certain animals together’
Sir, – Only two more chancellors of the exchequer to Christmas. – Yours, etc,
EAMON FARRELL,
Sandymount,
Dublin 4.
Sir, – It is difficult to tell if the current occupant of 10 Downing Street is a lame duck, a sitting duck or a dead duck. – Yours, etc,
LIAM POWER,
Dundalk,
Co Louth.
Sir, – Eoin Burke-Kennedy joins the chorus of criticism of what he calls the UK’s “low-tax gamble” (Analysis, Business, October 17th). Coverage of the proposed cuts, now abandoned, seems to lack all sense of perspective.
Under the now-abandoned tax cuts, the UK’s basic rate of tax would have been 19 per cent, slightly lower than Ireland’s 20 per cent, and the top rate of tax would have been 40 per cent, the same as in Ireland.
The UK’s corporation tax rate was due to remain at 19 per cent under the plans, much higher than Ireland’s rate of 12.5 per cent. Under the proposed UK rates of stamp duty, the average home buyer there would have paid the equivalent of €2,000, compared to €3,200 in Ireland.
How can Irish commentators portray rates of tax which are virtually identical to those here in Ireland as some kind of dangerous right-wing experiment?
The fact that such modest tax cuts can be viewed in this way is a good illustration of how accustomed Irish people have become to paying exorbitant levels of taxation even on modest incomes. – Yours, etc,
BARRY WALSH,
Clontarf,
Dublin 3.
Sir, – Bobby McDonagh’s analysis of Brexit’s consequences for the UK was excellent (“UK’s current economic mayhem is directly linked to Brexit myths”, Opinion & Analysis, October 17th). It is astonishing that such a mammoth Brexit elephant in the House of Commons can go unremarked by the MPs for so long. Perhaps we should circulate copies of Bobby’s column together with Martyn Turner’s cartoon last Saturday to all said members! – Yours, etc,
JOE O’MAHONY,
Sandyford,
Dublin 16.
Sir, – The lady is not for turning . . . up. – Yours, etc,
DAVID CURRAN,
Knocknacarra,
Galway.