Irish ranking

Dave McCann (Letters, 17 April) attacks the Irish economic 
position based on a “what if” International Monetary Fund ­report.

However, the 2013 United Nations human development index, which provides a composite measure of three basic dimensions of human development – health, education and income – ranks Norway in first place ­followed by Australia and the United States. Ireland is in seventh place out of 186 countries in the world, Iceland 13th and the UK way down in 26th place.

Therefore, I can’t see Ireland rushing to rejoin a failing United Kingdom which has total debts more than five times what our entire economy is worth.

Proportionally, that is more debt than Italy, Portugal, Spain and almost twice as much debt as Greece.

Fraser Grant

Warrender Park Road

Edinburgh