Sir, - The dismissive and insulting way in which our valued hospital staff have been treated over the past few months by our government is a lesson for every person in this country regarding our government's priorities.
There are few other professions requiring the enormous physical and emotional input as health care, and both nurses and paramedics are paid well below their worth. Let us not be fooled by the minister's blusterings regarding finances. The tax exhausted public have managed to foot the bill for the generous salary increases to politicians last year, and will shortly be paying the even more generous compensation bill to farmers.
The fact that the paramedics even reached the picket line last Monday morning is a clear example of the Government's appalling and destructive behaviour, and the paramedics continue to be demeaned on a daily basis. The spectacle of these people traipsing up and down on the street shows up the Government's absolute refusal to take responsibility for the public's welfare. Already, irreparable damage has been done.
And all this with a "labour" government in power. Yours, etc.,
Brooklawn Avenue,
Blackrock,
Co Dublin.