Letter: Learn lesson from tragedy in Ireland

THE tragedy unfolding in front of our eyes in Ireland seems to be never ending (News, 23 January). It is important that vital lessons are learnt from their mistakes.

Firstly that lower corporation taxes actually mean lower tax take for government to spend on an educated workforce, better roads, railways, airports and seaports.

Secondly, membership of the euro has been terrible for the Irish economy. Not being able to set your own interest rates and the value of your currency in relation to others has been at the heart of the Irish collapse - badly affecting their tourist industry and their export industry.

Thank goodness there are no political parties in Scotland who advocate the Reagonomics of the laffer curve and joining the euro. Oh wait a minute.

Michelle Smythe, Edinburgh