Sir, - I belong to a minority in this State that has been discriminated against and the outrage that I feel is reflected in the media.
In the past week my Irish non-contributory pension has been reduced by £20 a week. I worked away from Ireland for over 40 years and am in receipt of a British pension. Now the Government believes my pension should be reduced because of the strength of sterling against the punt.
This is a cruel and heartless way to treat people who spent their working lives abroad because they were unable to find employment at home. In the 1950s this was not a matter of choice, but of necessity.
It is totally unacceptable that the Government uses international currency exchange rates as an excuse to rip off pensioners. I did not receive any compensation when the value of sterling was lower than the punt. - Yours, etc.,
Dermot S. Harte, Buttevant, Mallow, Co Cork.