Madam, - How dare Bertie Ahern use the phrase "poverty-stricken", even in a relative sense, when discussing his salary of almost one third of a million euros (Dáil Report, November 14th)?
"Poverty-stricken" applies to those folk who have recourse to the St Vincent de Paul, especially at this time of year; or to those deprived of a job at the age of 50-plus due to globalisation and who may never work again; or to those ministered to by Fr Peter McVerry.
Could we have less of the "Bertie as victim" bleat? It was never particularly valid; it is even less so now. - Yours, etc,
JOHN R. BAILEY, Cowper Downs, Rathmines, Dublin 6.