Sir, – As a non-television viewer, I was intrigued to hear that I am, according to Pat Rabbitte, a “caveman” (Breaking News, August 27th). I sincerely hope that Minister for the Environment Phil Hogan will heed Mr Rabbitte’s determination of my status and reclassify my dwelling as “cave” accordingly. This, I believe, will exempt me from property tax.
I shall continue to follow with interest the debate on whether the property tax register will be used to collect the broadcasting charge. – Yours, etc,
Dr JOHN KEARNS,
Eaton Square,
Terenure, Dublin 6W.
Sir, – I was appalled by the use of the word “cavemen” to describe the section of our community that does not wish to be part of his “media world”. While Pat Rabbitte may withdraw the word used, I fear it unfortunately reflects his growing detachment from what constitutes a society. – Yours, etc,
JOHN HALLIGAN,
Waterside Crescent,
Portmarnock, Co Dublin.
Sir, – How wonderful to be defined as a cave woman by Minister for Communications Pat Rabbitte. To add to the hilarity, he doubts my existence.
I would like to take this opportunity to inform Mr Rabbitte that there are quite a few of my acquaintances and friends who neither own a television nor look at programmes on other gadgets. Most of us lead more interesting lives than being passive audiences for television. – Yours, etc,
MARY LEAHY,
John’s Hill, Waterford.
Sir, – Having spent the past 58 years in awe of Pat Rabbitte’s sophisticated wit and eloquence, it comes as a shattering experience to discover that I am actually a caveman. As a practising chartered accountant I have been called many things down the years, but this beats all.
There I am, every winter, snugly nestled into my cosy rural abode reading Dickens,Thackeray, Proust, et al, seemingly safe in the knowledge of my gentle, quiet erudition. But no. Erudite I am not. I do not have a television. I do not watch a television. I am a caveman. I have a cavewife. I, sorry, we have begotten four cavechildren. Yet a further generation of cavepeople for the Minister to expostulate about.
I apologise to the Minister, and promise to purchase and watch the said device without delay (or nunc statim as we cavemen say).
I intend to pay for it in dinosaur skins. – Yours, etc,
MOSSY POWER,
New Street,
Carrick on Suir,
Co Tipperary.
Sir, – I would like to inform the Minister for Communications that I do not live in a cave and I do not own a television. Nor do I watch television via a tablet or computer or anything else.
Why? Well, as far as I can see, our public service broadcaster RTE beams out a seemingly endless stream of cookery, antiques, gardening, quiz and reality programmes, soaps, imports and reruns. RTÉ Radio is no better, with very little content but plenty of inane talk shows and clone-like DJs. The Minister’s argument that a universal tax would support public service broadcasting rings a bit hollow. What public service is being rendered with this stuff?
Mr Rabbitte should address the real problem rather than making untrue generalisations about his fellow citizens. If licence-dodging is the problem then he should do something about that rather than making me pay for rubbish that he couldn’t pay me to watch. Or else he should try some lateral thinking and privatise the lot. – Yours, etc,
ARTHUR BOLAND,
Clanbrassil Street,
Dublin 8.
Sir, – I write as a newly outed caveman. I have not had a television for 10 years or so, and do not miss it in the slightest. With the utmost troglodytic respect, Minister, if I am a Cro-Magnon, you, sir, are a Neanderthal. – Yours, etc,
PATRICK EDMOND
Ballymun Road,
Glasnevin,
Dublin 9.
Sir, – If there are any technologically-challenged cavemen in Ireland, would they be of the species Homo Analogus? – Yours, etc,
NIALL McARDLE,
Wellington Street,
Eganville,
Ontario,
Canada.
Sir, – I have a number of friends, some of whom do not have a television. They are certainly not liars, and I have yet to meet a caveman with a PhD, an MA or who has qualified as a medical doctor or an architect. – Yours, etc,
ELIZABETH SULLIVAN,
Delgany,
Co Wicklow.
Sir, – This caveman has never owned or hired a TV, considering its content to be beneath his dignity. He has, however, a quite extensive library and has for many years pursued a satisfying though modest literary career. Some caveman! The boot is on the other foot, Mr Rabbitte. – Yours, etc,
HENRY van RAAT,
Allihies,
Co Cork.
Sir, – In this house, we are all avid consumers of media in diverse forms, channels and devices. No cavemen (or cave-women) here. Minister for Communications Pat Rabbitte (Home News, August 27th) can feel vindicated by this and many other households.
However, the old TV license was discretionary – you could choose not to have a TV. The licence collectors had sweeping powers to ensure that your statement to this effect was true, by inspecting your house for the offending “rabbit ears”. But if you made a conscious choice to abstain, you were not bound to pay the license.
Today, there are those who make an equally conscious decision to abstain from all transmitted media. Indeed, there are times when many of us have felt like joining them. It is unjust that these people should have to pay this new tax.
The coarse term “cavemen” adds insult to their injury. – Yours, etc,
TONY MULQUEEN,
Aughrim Oaks,
Aughrim,
Co Wicklow.
Sir, – Would it not be better to close down RTÉ (behold the Greeks), or is this body of strategic national importance? – Yours, etc,
HUGH McDERMOTT,
The Rise,
Glasnevin,
Dublin 9.
Sir, – Haven’t we seen this before? An Irish politician making decisions based on his erroneous beliefs, ignoring real statistics and insulting people whom he is paid to serve!
Last time, it was “go and kill yourself”. This time, it’s “cavemen”.
If the Irish people have learnt anything from the past five years, they will force the resignation of the Minister for Communications. – Yours, etc,
DAVID BYRDEN,
Strohgasse,
Vienna, Austria.
Sir, – When the Minister for Communications addresses the anomalies in mobile phone companies’ maze of tariffs, I will be more than happy to pay the new broadcasting charge in respect of my cave. – Yours, etc,
CORMAC MEEHAN,
Main Street,
Bundoran,
Co Donegal.
Sir, – Pat Rabbitte's recent reference to "cavemen", while attempting to justify yet another ill-conceived, draconian tax about to be foisted on the public, was undoubtedly inspired by watching too many reruns of The Flintstones. – Yours, etc,
EDWARD D RAFFERTY,
Mill Park,
Castlebridge,
Co Wexford.