While the recent Budget announcement has some good things in it, it will not bring about social equality in society. We need to get back to a culture of gainful employment, public service jobs and overtime. 

In the 1970s, when Ireland was a poorer country, we had thousands of public service jobs with overtime for anyone who wanted it. 

Overtime is good, and when it is cut, it merely paves the way for casual jobs.

The EU is to blame for cutting worker’s overtime. Imagine if the EU told dairy farmers and cereal farmers to cut their working hours? 

Would they put up with it? Of course not.

Patrick Confrey

Rathfarnham, Dublin 14