‘Frugal’ is not the right word for states that want to contribute less to EU budget

Sir, – Words are weapons. The use of words can be ideological. Cliff Taylor in his Smart Money column (November 6th) on some EU states “eying Ireland corporation tax revenue” describes those states that want to contribute less to the EU budget and that oppose a centralised EU budget as the “frugal” states.

This is a commonly used term, a self-description, but is inaccurate. The five are Austria, Sweden, Denmark, Netherlands and, later, Finland.

They should be called the “greedy” states because they are short-term and self-serving on the European project, which is built on greater co-operation and sharing power and resources.

Another term might be “mean” or perhaps “conservative”. Economists might call them “anti-Keynesian.” This is because Keynesians support active fiscal intervention and collectively guaranteed borrowing by EU states. – Yours, etc,

PAUL SWEENEY,

Milltown,

Dublin 6.

Sir, – Cliff Taylor in Smart Money (November 6th) reports that Ireland’s revenues are so enormous that they are attracting way more international attention than the Government would like.

Is it possible that so many European leaders are coming to Dublin on Thursday for a digout? – Yours, etc,

TONY WOOL,

Ballincollig,

Cork.