Madam, - Christmas is a time for fairytales. The Mary Harney interview (Dec 27th) was as good as it gets.
The claim that we have a low-tax economy is repeated when in fact what we have is a growing collection of charges and tolls that amounts to the opposite, running in tandem with a no-tax tier for the wealthy and the chosen.
Creating tiers is Mary's forte.
The plight of those ill people caught on a waiting list till a gap appears in the queue will be tackled by the introduction of "contracts" for consultants, we are told.
This will cut out the queue-jumping by the monied and ensure that all are treated fairly and equally. Humbug. If this plan ever sees the light of day all that will happen is the less well off will be cut off from being treated by the best.
The State-supported medical education system and a period under "contract" will be used to hone skill and reputation and then the bright lights of a private practice to service the aforementioned monied that reside in the no-tax tier will beckon.
The less well off will be forever stuck with "contracted" mediocrity - the two-tiered health service delivered.
This fairy tale might fly in New York but we live in hope that we are a more discerning and fair-minded people here. - Yours, etc,
JIM O'SULLIVAN, Rathedmond, Sligo.