Sir, – It beggars belief that anyone would suggest there is nothing ideological about allowing tax exiles to buy “their way out of tax residency” as John McManus correctly asserted (Business + Innovation, October 14th). Indeed, such a proposal would involve “hollowing out” the tax residency rules as the Department of Finance stated in resisting that idea (as you reported on October 12th) and would mean that even billionaire Irish citizens who are tax exiles could live here virtually full-time tax free with barely any inconvenience to their lifestyles. In other words, if the Government capitulate to lobbying by the Forum on Philanthropy in the hope of obtaining charitable donations in exchange for that concession it would destroy any notion of tax equity.
Indeed, it is also lamentable that many seem to have forgotten that the recent property crash was partly due to the collapse of any sense of moral restraint in the management of the Irish economy. The fact some – though not all – of the richest people who live here with their families are exiles for tax purposes is quite shocking; and the lack of moral outrage about it underlines that we have learned nothing from the recent collapse of our economy. – Yours, etc,
RONAN TYNAN,
Lower Kilmacud Road,
Stillorgan,
Co Dublin.
Sir, – While John McManus’s piece (Business + Innovation, October 14th) is directed mainly at some of those on the giving side of philanthropy, his point that philanthropy is no substitute for taxation has equal application to those individuals and organisations on the receiving end of such philanthropic activity.
Individuals and organisations who, for one reason or another, require financial support are put in an invidious position when that support is dependent upon the current and changeable attitudes of other individuals, groups, business organisations or foundations. Support from such sources – while it is, of course, to be admired – cannot be relied upon to deliver the long term, secure, “no strings” funding which such individuals and organisations need.
What is needed for a truly flourishing social democracy is a clear state commitment to a taxation system which – barring serious fiscal crises – can be relied upon to provide adequate, secure, long-term support for those in the community who are disadvantaged or in need.
No doubt Frank Flannery (as quoted by McManus), would describe this suggestion as "ideological bullshit", but I prefer to see it as driven by a compassionate reading of John Rawls's guiding principle for a just society: "All social primary goods . . . be distributed equally unless an unequal distribution . . . is to the advantage of the least favoured" (Theory of Justice). _ Yours, etc,
HARRY McCAULEY,
Maynooth Park,
Maynooth,
Co Kildare.
Sir, – Whether you are a Government supporter or not, you want to hear the detail of the budget as it is announced in the Dáil.
Every year with monotonous regularity I have to endure the opposition members interrupting the Minister for Finance so that they can draw attention to themselves. Sneering and jeering is their method. Why do they have to behave like a class of primary school pupils on the last day of term? This year, please could they give us a break. – Yours, etc,
KATHRYN MULREADY,
Calderwood Road,
Drumcondra,
Dublin 9.
Sir, – We wish to congratulate you on your recent health supplement dedicated to mental health issues (Health + Family, October 8th).
People with mental health difficulties consistently voice their desire for talking therapies.
We particularly welcome the HSE initiative to provide psychotherapists and counsellors to some primary care teams, and to engage the services of psychotherapists in the community to offer a number of sessions to medical card holders through a GP referral scheme.
Prof Jim Lucey was quoted as saying that 10-12 sessions of cognitive behaviour therapy can make a radical difference to a person’s life.
While this is a valid claim in some instances, it fails to acknowledge the range and depth of human distress. We do not believe that one size fits all. In our professional opinion one client may benefit from a family therapy intervention, another client might progress further by participation in a psychotherapy group and yet another might benefit from one-to-one therapy. Clients are becoming increasingly aware and selective about their treatment options. It is important clients should have a choice.
Prof Alan Carr, in his Review of the Effectiveness of Psychotherapy, a meta-analysis of the research to date, points to some interesting findings. The research proposes that the optimal number of sessions to achieve a positive outcome is 20-45 sessions.
Most importantly, in the current recessionary climate, Prof Carr states “Psychotherapy has a significant medical offset. Those who participate in psychotherapy use less other medical services at primary, secondary and tertiary levels and are hospitalised less than those who do not receive psychotherapy”.
While there is no State register as yet, the Irish Council for Psychotherapy (ICP) holds a register of psychotherapists, accredited to European standards. We urge the Minister of Health to continue to roll out access to a psychotherapy service, as requested by service users, and to ring fence money for this in the budget. – Yours, etc,
KATIE WOOLLETT &
HELEN JONES,
ICP Registered
Psychotherapists,
C/o Pembroke Gardens,
Ballsbridge,
Dublin 4.
Sir, – I noted that all of page 10 in your October 12th edition was devoted to promotion of the Irish Times 2014 Budget Supplement. The eye-catching colourful array of characters used in the advertisement appeared at first glance to be representative of Irish society today, ie, various family groupings, single women, a single mother, and a retired couple.
However, on closer inspection I realised that single men, same sex couples, widows and widowers were not depicted. In these days of inclusiveness and political correctness I wonder why not? Must be due to the budget. – Yours, etc,
CLARE BALFE,
Innisfallen Parade,
Dublin 7.
A chara, – The Government still continues to tell us that all the easy decisions have been made, ie the low-hanging fruit has been picked.
We have some 800 quangos and a Government promise to close some 140 of them.
To many these represent low- hanging fruit .
Can we expect an announcement, a time frame and an indication of savings to be made in 2014 on all of the closures in the budget please? – Is mise,
SEAN O KIERSEY,
Kill Abbey,
Deansgrange,
Blackrock,
Co Dublin.