Sir, - The Irish economy is far too sensitive to be left to the mercy of politicians such as Mr Cowen. The Minister must be fully aware that there has not been one case of "new variant" CJD in Ireland in the past four years. The dangers from salmonella, E.coli and brucellosis have not provoked the same degree of hysteria but they are more likely, by a multiple of many hundreds, to cause disease.
Whose side is he on anyway? There is a bigger chance of dying from falling down the stairs at home. Why does he not recommend that we all live in bungalows?
Perhaps Mr Cowen was making a smokescreen to hide the fact that he has raised the charges in accident and emergency units by a whopping 66 per cent (from £12 to £20) as well as increasing the price of a public bed from £20 to £25 per day.
To put the matter is perspective, in Britain with a population of 57 million there have been only 21 cases of new variant CJD in the last four years. Smoking, drinking and road accidents have accounted for about 624,000 deaths.
Mr Cowen, cop on. - Yours, etc.,
From John A. Cullinane
Coolroe Heights, Ballincollig, Cork.