Sir, - According to the Budget tables in The Irish Times, I'll be approximately £789 better off as a result of the Budget. If, however, my wife were working outside the home, my net gain would be £2132! So, not only are my wife and I now to have less overall income because of our choice to have someone work full-time in the home, we are also to be taxed approximately £100 per month for the "privilege".
I seem to remember something in the Fianna Fail election manifesto about a tax break for homeworkers as part of an overall pro-family policy, but I may be mistaken about this - just as I was obviously mistaken about what I read there concerning Partnership for Peace. I also seem to remember our Constitution having an article - was it Article 41.2.2? - that had something to say about mothers not being obliged by economic necessity to engage in labour. No doubt I am mistaken about that too.
I would like to thank Mr McCreevy for remembering those of us who have made a consistent financial sacrifice over the years for the good of our children. May I assure him that we will remember him and his colleagues when election time rolls around. - Yours, etc.,
Gerard Casey, Ballinclea Heights, Killiney, Co Dublin