Madam, - Just as with the late Susie Long, the words written by Orla Tinsley about cystic fibrosis sufferers and the lack of proper resources for their treatment are both heartbreaking and a terrible indictment of the callous indifference of those who govern this country (Opinion & Analysis, January 9th) .
Need it be pointed out, yet again, that Mr Ahern and his colleagues have been in Government continuously for more than 10 years and have had enormous tax revenues at their disposal. How could they not have used a tiny fraction of these resources to try to alleviate the sufferings of so many young people?
Did Mr Ahern truly feel that the use of resources to create even more Ministers of State was more important than a dedicated cystic fibrosis unit?
And what of Mary Harney? The solution to this problem does not require her to battle with powerful vested interests or devise anything as radical as the notion of private co-located hospitals. So why is this scandal allowed to continue?
Surely the answer cannot be that there are not enough votes involved to make it a priority or that public outrage has not reached a sufficient level to warrant her intervention.
Orla Tinsley points that young people are effectively being taught that their deaths will matter only if they are famous. If ordinary people cannot shame our politicians into acting, then perhaps it is time that the moral and religious leaders of this country started making their voices heard on this issue.
- Yours, etc,
GEARÓID Ó DUBHÁIN, Mount Oval Village, Rochestown, Co Cork.