Madam, - I was quite taken aback by the assertion by the Tánaiste and Minister for Health, Mary Harney, that consultants are "considering industrial action as a response to an insurance grievance they have with a British-based organisation" (Opinion, February 4th). For the record, consultants are considering strike action as a response to a change made by the Department of Health to their contractual insurance arrangements without a prior negotiated agreement. This change has in turn led to the insurance crisis.
For a member of the public to be guilty of such a misunderstanding would be forgivable. For the Minister for Health to have such a poor grasp of affairs within her Department is beyond belief. - Yours, etc.,
EAMON TIERNEY,
Department of Anaesthesia,
Wexford General Hospital,
Wexford.