Sir, - It was with interest and surprise that I read your article on "Criminal assets staff partners protected" (September 13th). This refers to an amendment to the Criminal Assets Bureau Bill from the Minister for Finance, Mr Quinn, extending the legal protection for family members of bureau officials to any person who is cohabiting or residing with the individual". Mr Quinn is quoted as saying that "the amendment is a reflection of modern Irish society".
I have been in correspondence with the same Mr Quinn with regard to the inequity of taxation policy, which treats me as a single man despite the fact that I cohabit with my partner and our two children in a family unit, and which unfairly financially penalises my family, to its overall detriment. Mr Quinn has studiously failed to comment on the issue of equity with regard to this policy. I am naturally pleased to note that he is aware of modern Irish society, but it appears that his concerns are confined to members of government services rather than to all members of society.
Present taxation policy for cohabiting couples and their children is inequitable and contrary to the principles of natural justice and regard for the family. It is inconsistent with other legislation which deprives earners of single parents' allowance if they are cohabiting, and deprives partners of social welfare benefits to which they would be entitled as single parents - which taxation policy infers they are. It is also a policy which clearly encourages fraudulent social welfare claims (note The Irish Times, September 13th: "Massive welfare fraud exposed").
Will Mr Quinn, who professes to be aware of modern Irish society, introduce an amendment to taxation legislation so as to treat cohabiting couples and their families in an equitable manner?
Yours, etc.,
Dunmore East,
Co. Waterford.