Merriman Summer School: A declaration that the Government's Hanly reforms contain an unstoppable logic for better hospital services in every region of the country is set to be the focus of debate in this year's Merriman Summer School programme.
The school will commence today in the north Clare town of Ennistymon for its 37th year. Clare has been the focus of strong opposition to the proposed Hanly reforms since their publication last October.
Tomorrow, in a paper entitled "The Culture and Politics of Healthcare Delivery", UCD Professor of Medicine, Prof Muiris Fitzgerald will tell the Summer School that implementation of the Hanly reforms would transform the efficiency, effectiveness, safety and equity of Irish healthcare.
Prof Fitzgerald is one of a number of prominent speakers tackling the school's theme of challenges and contradictions facing Ireland.
Later today the Archbishop of Dublin, Dr Diarmuid Martin, will open the school. According to its director Prof Jim Malone of Trinity College, "the line-up of speakers will address many aspects of the new Ireland, its sacred cows, and its inevitable orthodoxies and heresies.
"The fields they will cover include healthcare, economics, sport, religion, culture, personal lifestyles, complementary medicine and many other aspects of the day-to-day life of the people."
Along with Archbishop Martin, other speakers include the chairwoman of the Arts Council, Ms Olive Braiden. Her subject will be: it is true that the women are worse than the men. Prof John Fitzgerald of the ESRI will discuss Ireland's ageing multicultural economy, while a paper on Society and Culture in Contemporary Ireland will be given by historian Mr Kevin Whelan.
The national director of the Special Olympics of Ireland and CEO of the 2003 World Games, Ms Mary Davis, will discuss the role sport plays in society, while former chairman of the Arts Council, Mr Ciarán Benson, will give a paper entitled "The Pleasures and Dangers of Orthodoxy".
The full programme, including Irish seminars, classes and lectures on Clare folklore, is available at www.merriman.ie
