Madam, – This year the poorer members of our society will again be punished by the non-payment of the Christmas bonus.
In the meantime, retail sales are flat, and jobs are being lost.
It would be possible to restore the value of the bonus to social welfare recipients and at the same time increase retail sales within the State.
This would happen if the bonus were paid in the form of vouchers that could be used in the purchase of goods and services in specified areas, ie food, toys, clothing and electrical goods.
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This would also reduce the haemorrhage of money to retail outlets outside the State. – Yours, etc,