Madam, - Recalling Brian Cowen's reference some years ago to the Department of Health as "Angola" when being moved on from his duties in that department, and considering the recent publicity regarding trolley numbers in hospital corridors and queues in hospital A&E departments, would Mary Harney consider that health might have now deteriorated to such an extent that it could be said to encompass Mozambique, Rwanda, Burundi and even the Congo as well? - Yours, etc,
PHILIP O'REILLY, Grosvenor Place, Rathmines, Dublin 6.