Labour's way

Sir, – On the day that the Labour Party conference began, the heating allowance paid to the poor and the vulnerable was stopped…

Sir, – On the day that the Labour Party conference began, the heating allowance paid to the poor and the vulnerable was stopped. That night Met Éireann forecast temperatures of one degree below to two degrees above zero, with the possibility of wintry showers to follow.

What precisely does that phrase “the poor and vulnerable” mean in its fulfilment? Are the poor and the vulnerable impervious to cold – the freezing cold? Are they perhaps kept warm with what is generated by the compassion that burns in the promises made by the parties in government? Or am I missing something? – Yours, etc,

PEADAR KELLY,

Sillogue Gardens,

Ballymun, Dublin 11.

A chara, – It now seems that it’s either Frankfurt’s way or pepper spray! – Is mise,

FIONNTÁN Ó SÚILLEABHÁIN,

Cnoc Bhaile Thomáis,

Guaire, Co Loch Garman.

Sir, – Eamon Gilmore spent Saturday night telling us why Ireland was such a great country. He swept to the stage to the fantastic music of the band Elbow. From England. – Yours, etc,

PHILIP FLYNN,

Mount Brown,

Dublin 8.