Sir, - One cannot help wondering which public servants are receiving, or are about to receive, the 20 per cent salary increases of which Mr Charles McCreevy was speaking on RTE last Sunday, increases that would wreck the fearful symmetry of the Celtic Tiger.
The truth is that many public servants, including pensioners, have not yet received the 1.5 per cent increase to basic pay (before tax) due to them under partnership 2000 from July 1st, 1999.
It is widely acknowledged that they are among the PAYE workers who paid their 60 per cent marginal income tax, and received scant expense allowances, during the long years when the wealthiest citizens of the State paid little or no income tax. - Yours, etc.,
Mairead Ni Riain, Cherry Court, Killiney, Co Dublin.