Sir, – Judging by the quality of the replies to Pat Rabbitte’s ill-judged remarks, the cavemen should be running the country. – Yours, etc,
ANGELA McCARTHY,
Passage East,
Co Waterford.
Sir, – Readers should not be too hard on Minister for Communications Pat Rabbitte for thinking that we all must be accessing content on our iPads and iPhones.
After all, a few years ago he (and every member of the Oireachtas), was offered a complimentary iPad (paid for by us taxpayers) and he and every TD can upgrade their free mobile phone every three years. He does not even have to pay for usage of the mobile phone, which is for him a tax-free expense. How could he possibly think that that taxpayers who pay for all this for him and fellow TDs have not also their own iPads and iPhones?
Indeed, how could he possibly think that taxpayers who, in addition to the huge burden of taxes and charges imposed by his Government, pay also for his iPad and iPhone, could possibly afford iPads and iPhones for themselves? – Yours, etc,
ANN KEHOE,
Roselawn Road,
Castleknock, Dublin 15.
Sir, – To those who eschew the possession of a television set, I say: come out of the jungle and get with the beat. This medium of communication is a bare necessity nowadays! – Yours, etc,
OLIVER McGRANE,
Marley Avenue,
Rathfarnham, Dublin 16.
Sir, – What a delightful surprise to learn that there are so many articulate, literature-loving, dross-despising “cave-persons” in our midst and we never knew! Perfect material for a TV documentary! – Yours, etc,
JERRY CROWLEY,
Belgrove Lawn,
Chapelizod,
Dublin 20.
Sir, – I heartily object to Pat Rabbitte’s reference to cavemen. I do not watch television and feel outraged that I am ridiculed by a man I have heretofore admired from his USI days – and then asked to pay for a service that I neither need nor want.
How dare a minister impose a blanket tax on people who do not watch television or access programmes on iPad or smartphone. I stand with Phyllis McGee (Home News, August 28th).
GERALDINE BYRNE,
Charleville Road,
Tullamore,
Co Offaly.
Sir, – I have a friend in Co Mayo who has a hearing impairment and lives in isolated poverty. He does not own a radio because he cannot hear it, and chooses not to own a TV set. Because there is only a bus once a week, he cannot attend computer classes, so has yet to embrace this technology. Meanwhile, his aged mobile phone is only sufficient to send texts. I know others in similar circumstances.
In calling such people “cavemen” and not believing they exist, Pat Rabbitte clearly demonstrates how out of touch he is with those outside of his own privileged social circle. I find his comments deeply insulting. – Yours, etc,
MARIE DAY,
Eyeries,
Beara,
Co Cork.
Sir, – Your paper is regarded as the crème de la crème and naturally that must go for the readership also? I was gobsmacked to read so many of them stating that they were really cavemen and cavewomen! – Yours, etc,
KEITH NOLAN,
Caldragh,
Carrick-on-Shannon,
Co Leitrim.
Sir, – It is typical of the incompetence of the Irish media that the irrelevant and the trivial in political life gets blanket coverage while the important and the vital gets ignored.
The “caveman” remark by a government minister might be stupid, but it will not bankrupt the country.
In the past the appropriateness or otherwise of the colour of a former taoiseach’s trousers got similar blanket coverage. At the same time the fact that the country was heading for bankruptcy got none. – Yours, etc,
A LEAVY,
Shielmartin Drive,
Sutton, Dublin 13.
Sir, – Should the Minister for Communications have added a caveat to his “caveman” remark? – Yours, etc,
JOHN O’BYRNE,
Mount Argus Court,
Harold’s Cross,
Dublin 6W.
Sir, – Will Pat Rabbitte’s “cavemen” comments regarding TV licences, etc, only serve to drive the matter underground? – Yours, etc,
TOM GILSENAN,
Elm Mount,
Beaumont, Dublin 9.
Sir, – So, there are no “cavemen” in Ireland? There will be soon. – Yours, etc,
PETER GUNNING,
Laurel Court,
Midleton,
Co Cork.