Sir, - On August 17th you kindly published comments of mine concerning the amount of money that is wasted by health boards on the daily entertainment of their 250 members.
This morning all 55 members of the Eastern Regional Health Authority received an invitation in the post for a diary date of September 9th next. At 10.30 a.m. we are to assemble for morning coffee in the Swords Business Campus, followed by a private guided bus tour of Dublin Port before being chauffeured back to the Swords Business Campus for the obligatory ample lunch.
This is one of three weekly trips that are organised on the command of members by the three health boards in the eastern region. The purpose of the visit is to inspect those staff who inspect incoming cruise liners for compliance with national and EU food hygiene legislation.
If the Minister for Health and Children has finished making his political appointments to health boards and has agreed with them the precise number of staff that are to be laid off in the health services, he is more than welcome to take my seat and join his fellow daytrippers on the bus. Normal expenses apply. - Yours, etc.,
Dr MAURICE GUÉRET, Member of the Eastern Regional Health Authority, Terenure, Dublin 6