Sir, – You have published three interesting figures recently.
The first was that our agricultural exports were worth almost €10 billion last year, a great achievement by that industry.
The second was that the interest paid on our national debt was €8.1 billion ( almost all paid to holders outside the Irish jurisdiction and therefore a total loss to Ireland Inc) which largely wiped out the benefits of the above.
The third is that we Irish have approximately €90 billion worth of savings, most of which is held outside Ireland. The Post Office, our banks and prize bonds pay a derisory rate of interest which does not match inflation, why doesn’t the State offer to pay us the 3.53 per cent it is paying international lenders and thereby ensure we fund our own deficits and the interest paid remains in our economy? – Yours, etc,
DONALD PRATT,
Avoca Handweavers,
Kilmacanogue,
Bray, Co Wicklow.