A chara, – Further to “Transfer begins of €13 billion Apple tax case money” (News, September 10th), as part of its upcoming budget, perhaps the Government should consider giving a redress sum of say €100,000 to every Irish citizen (from the Apple fund) to compensate for the blameless hardships inflicted on them since 2008. These include the mismanagement of public funds, the children’s hospital and the bicycle shed being two examples, the banking bailout and the constant rises in the cost of living. This conservative figure could help many young people get on the property ladder, perhaps pay off a mortgage or make good pandemic rent arrears.
There would still be substantial sums of money left for the Government to squander on various projects. – Yours, etc,
SEÁN Ó DÍOMASAIGH,
Dunsany,
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Co Meath.
A chara, – In light of the recent ruling on the €13 billion tax due to Ireland, it would be very fitting, and indeed would further promote good relations between Ireland and the UK, if we were to loan Britain €10 billion in their hour of need.
In order to be scrupulously fair, it should be lent under the very same terms and conditions as the loan we had from the British. – Is mise,
PATRICK McHUGH,
Drogheda,
Co Louth.
Sir, – Does this mean bicycle sheds for all? – Yours, etc,
BOB MORRISON,
Mullingar,
Co Westmeath.
Sir, – Is it possible that the reason successive governments did not want the €13 billion is that they had no idea how to waste so much money? Of course, the present one could oversee the building of another 38,805 bike sheds or a few new hospitals in completely the wrong locations. – Yours, etc,
DAMIAN GILL,
Dalkey,
Co Dublin.
Sir, – While the €13 billion should have been paid when required, we will benefit from it now. It could buy another six children hospitals, 40,000 average new houses or 38,000 bike sheds. Spend it well. – Yours, etc,
BILL KEE,
Skerries,
Co Dublin.
Sir, – I suppose, because it’s Apple, we could call it a windfall. – Yours, etc,
PAUL CONNOLLY,
Cavan.
Sir, – Should some of the Apple windfall be spent on major infrastructure projects such as schools, motorways and hospitals? In view of the long waiting list for eye cataract surgery, a new national eye hospital would be an appropriate choice of infrastructural project, and in deference to Apple who will have indirectly funded it, a suitable name might be the iHospital. – Yours, etc,
PAVEL MARIANSKI,
Dungarvan,
Co Waterford.
Sir, – Does an Apple that pays keep investment away? – Yours, etc,
PATRICK COLLINS,
Kilmacanogue,
Co Wicklow.
Sir, – Thirteen billion due in back taxes to Ireland and, to quote Patrick Kavanagh, “on an Apple-ripe September morning”. – Yours, etc,
JAMES AITKEN,
Mount Merrion,
Co Dublin.