Sir, – Fintan O’Toole is right that life in Ireland is immeasurably better than 40 years ago but the increase in his remaining years is less than he thinks (“I don’t miss the Ireland that required us to marry in secret”, Opinion & Analysis, December 27th). He has compared male life expectancy at birth in 1983 (70 years) with life expectancy today for a 64-year old man (83 years).
In 1983 he could have expected to live another 14 years beyond 64 – not five as he writes.
Life expectancy at birth has increased by a decade in the last 40 years because of the dramatic reduction in perinatal and infant mortality.
While it would not be true to say that this is no country for old men, progress has definitely been less, with only an added five years in retirement. – Yours, etc,
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Dr JOHN DOHERTY,
Gaoth Dobhair,
Co Dhún na nGall.
