Sir, – I am one of six emigrant children of Ireland.
For Christmas each year, I make my parents a family calendar with photos of their children and grandchildren, who live in America, Australia and England.
It brings so much joy to my family throughout the year.
This year the calendar cost me $20 to make, and another $29 to mail through the US postal service.
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To my horror, my mother was asked to pay a charge of €14.41 for Irish customs charges in order to release her envelope from An Post.
I didn’t realise that things were so bad back home that retired grannies and grandads are being charged an effective import tax of 76 per cent on inexpensive gifts sent back home.
Merry Christmas. – Yours, etc,
MARK BURNS,
Cabin John,
Maryland, US.