A chara, – Pat O'Brien's attempt to stand by his claim that Sinn Féin has revenue raising powers in the North (Letters, December 27th) falls at the first hurdle. Regional rates can indeed be increased, but only at the expense of the ordinary working people of the North. What Sinn Féin (assuming the other parties in the Executive agree with it) cannot do is bring in taxes on the rich, or on corporations. Sinn Féin policies in the South, as I read them, are to shift the burden of taxation decisively onto those with the most resources – a power denied to the Northern Executive. Another power it does not have, of course, is to stop the obscene expenditure on weapons for Britain's imperialist endeavours. That's the difference between being an independent state, with the right to consider a wide range of options, and being a devolved administrative region with tightly constricted powers of decision. – Is mise,
EOIN Ó MURCHÚ,
Baile Átha Cliath 22.