Sir, – Both sides of the argument on inheritance tax (“The Debate: Should inheritance tax be cut in the budget?”, Opinion & Analysis, July 9th) completely miss the point that the reason why most of us work is to provide a better future for our kids. If a person works hard all their life, and through hard work, skill or simply good fortune manages to accumulate assets, then they should be allowed to pass on the fruits of their labours to their family without government interference. The family is the basic social unit of society. It is enshrined in our Constitution.
A person’s home, in particular, is typically a family home and should be passed on, regardless of value, without the grim prospect of it having to be sold to pay the taxman. Older people are under enough stress as it is. This particular source of stress can, and should, be removed. – Yours, etc,
TOM O’DWYER,
Terenure,
Dublin 6W.