A chara, – Thomas Morris (Letters, December 16th) makes the extraordinary assumption that a united Ireland would have to be in Nato, match Denmark's defence spending and introduce conscription. On the contrary, one of the potential advantages of unity would be that no part of Ireland would be in Nato and no taxes raised in Ireland would go to British military spending. An agreed united Ireland, achieved by peaceful and democratic means, could enhance the already respected international role of the Irish people in promoting peace and disarmament. – Yours, etc,
MÍCHEÁL
Mac DONNCHA,
Baile Átha Cliath 5.
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Sir, – Jim O'Sullivan (Letters, December 17th) suggests that if we paid Danish levels of tax we might receive similar levels of services, in terms of education and healthcare. An Irish worker earning €75,000 per year takes home 66 per cent of earnings. The same salary in Aarhus results in a take home pay of 62.7 per cent.
I’m not sure the difference would contribute much toward the £10 billion to £15 billion per year that Northern Ireland currently costs the United Kingdom. – Yours, etc,
BRIAN O’BRIEN,
Kinsale,
Co Cork.