Sir, – I am disappointed at the characterisation by the present Taoiseach and former minister for health of the legal strategy adopted by the Government as “legitimate” (“Nursing home charges: Varadkar defends strategy aimed at containing State’s potential liability”, News, January 31st).
Surely the duty of any Government is to discharge any lawful obligation and refuse to discharge any unlawful one.
If there is doubt then simply let a test case go through to the Supreme Court and abide by the outcome.
Skulking behind protracted litigation and confidentially settling cases by those with the resources and determination to sue, while ignoring those who do not, is both dishonourable and surely a dereliction of duty.
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We should not be surprised as this strategy has been well rehearsed as the “go to” protocol in relation to State liability in abuse of children in schools and cervical check matters.
It has been said that the moral test of a Government is how it treats those in the dawn of life (children), those in the shadows of life (the sick), and those in the twilight of life (the elderly).
We’re not doing so well, are we? – Yours, etc,
TERRY GRIFFIN,
Dublin 9.
