Madam, - I note that the current round of Estimates has produced a windfall of €67 million for Mr McCreevy's horse-racing chums. This is in addition to the somewhat suspect installation in Punchestown - again a boon for the horse-racing fraternity.
However, these same Estimates have produced a different outcome for those less well connected. A&E charges, as one example, are to rise substantially for all. Is there no one in this benighted Government who will look askance at what is being done in their, and our name, and call a halt? A principled resignation might not drastically alter matters, but it would at least indicate a degree of thought concerning priorities and a small degree of compassion for those so badly done by. - Yours, etc.,
JOHN R. BAILEY,
Cowper Downs,
Rathmines,
Dublin 6.
Madam, - I notice that the estimated savings arising from the increase in the threshold for seeking refunds under the drug payment scheme, from €70 to €78 a month, is €15 million. This is almost precisely the State funding for the Punchestown Event Centre. Mr McCreevy has said on RTÉ that as many people have medical cards, this increase should cause no great hardship. Is he so out of touch that he does not realise that there are also many people in this country on pensions and low incomes, but above the threshold for medical cards, for whom this is a serious blow? He has put horses before people!
The silence from the PDs concerning Punchestown is deafening, considering the big fuss they made about Abbotstown before last year's election, when they wanted to win our votes.
I hope that people will remember Punchestown the next time we get a chance to vote! - Yours, etc.,
MICHAEL DONNELLAN, Merval Park, Clareview, Limerick.