Sir, – As a landlord I collect a deposit from my tenant which I return at the end of the tenancy provided there has not been a breach of the tenancy agreement. The deposit is a one-off and is not collected annually. I have a contractual obligation to return the deposit, which I have always done. The Government proposal to subtract an unpaid water bill from a rental deposit is not workable. Should my tenant default in year one and the deposit is used to pay the water charge, what happens in year two and subsequent years? No, not workable, I’m afraid. – Yours, etc,
DENIS O’DONOGHUE,
Moate, Co Westmeath.
Sir, – The article "Cabinet moves to allow utilities take levy from welfare and wages" (May 7th) explains that the Government plans to introduce legislation to categorise citizens who owe civil debt into two groups – "won't pay debtors" and "can't pay debtors". Attachment orders from wages and social welfare payments are to be set up so that a compliance regime is mandated.
I suggest that logic be extended to include wealthy bondholders. In this way, the Government will be able to readily distinguish between secured and unsecured bondholders, between senior and junior bondholders, and between bondholders who need to be paid, who do not need to be paid and who we simply cannot pay. – Yours, etc,
GERALDINE
MOONEY SIMMIE,
Limerick.