Madam, - Your front-page picture of a jubilant Mary Coughlan, TD celebrating her deserved Cabinet promotion brings to mind similar recent photographs of happy Leaving Cert students waving their result sheets. While I wish Ms Coughlan and her other new Cabinet colleagues every success in their posts, I hope the celebrations will not go on too long before term time begins in earnest.
Enough time has already been expended on this shuffle and, like the new Luas, staying on track should be the priority in what may well be a short journey to a general election. - Yours, etc.,
PETER GILLETT, Sutton, Dublin 13.
Madam, - I would like to register my immense alarm and dismay at the appointment of Mary Harney, as Minister for Health.
As a non-consultant hospital doctor witnessing at close range the gross inequities in the Irish healthcare system, I am disturbed to hear that someone with such a right-wing political bent and pro-business agenda has wound up with her hands on the tiller of the Department of Health. I am also quite perplexed as to why the Taoiseach has made such a move, given his recent attempts to give the Government a more caring face to present to the electorate. - Yours etc.,
Dr CRÓCHÁN O'SULLIVAN, Grangebeg, Dunlavin, Co Wicklow.
Madam, - With regard to Mr Ahern's re-ordering of his Cabinet, only two words spring to mind. Deckchairs. Titanic. - Yours, etc.,
DERRICK HAMBLETON, Kingston, Galway.