Madam, - Does the arrogance of this Government know no bounds? Just days after introducing cuts to the benefits of the poorest in our society, we witness the hypocrisy of the Taoiseach as he encourages people to support the efforts of the St Vincent de Paul Society in providing children with toys for Christmas.
How has it come to pass that the growth in our economy over recent years has not been used in such a manner as to diminish the role of the Vincent de Paul in people's lives? It defies reason that Mr Ahern cannot see that his policies have put people in the position where they must turn to such organisations to provide through charity what they should have as of right in a civilised society. - Yours, etc.,
NOELEEN McCORMACK, Beamore, Drogheda, Co Louth.
Madam, - It is irritating to see that CORI is back in the public sphere, yet again lecturing the Government on its financial responsibilities to the poor and, if you don't mind, pronouncing itself "disappointed" with the recent Estimates.
However much any of us may criticise the decisions and choices made by this Government, the financial basis on which it takes major decisions is set out clearly in the Dáil. Moreover, the State's property and other assets are clearly visible and their value is either known or can be estimated fairly easily. This is in stark contrast to the secrecy and the forceful claims to financial privacy of the religious congregations.
Some of these congregations in recent months have shown how they react if there is any suggestion that they should divest themselves of their apparently immense land banks and property portfolios. They show little conspicuous charity when serious reparations are demanded of them for acts committed in their institutions in the past. They took the hardest of lines against the State in negotiating their financial indemnity in relation to institutional child abuse. This is the State which CORI is now presuming to instruct on its financial and moral obligations to the poor.
According to your report of November 24th, CORI says that "a society is measured by how it treats its most vulnerable people". So too are religious congregations. - Yours etc.,
HUGO BRADY BROWN, Stratford on Slaney, Co Wicklow.
Madam, - We had it on good authority a few years ago that "health cuts hurt the old, weak and handicapped".
With the authors of this wisdom, in tandem with the PDs, now busily engaged in working against it, should their candidates carry Government health warnings at the next election? - Yours, etc.,
ANNE CAHILL, Laurel Park, Clondalkin, Dublin 22.