I refer to your review (Life/Style, Feb 7) of the history of mental healthcare in Ireland by Richard Fitzpatrick.

Firstly I must compliment you on your article and that you did not, like other papers hype up this “deal” based on government spin.

Sean Quinn was conned by Anglo, tortured by IBRC and now it appears that he and his family have been sold out by the Irish “establishment” in an attempt to block them taking their “big” case against IBRC.

It was interesting news that Pope Benedict VXI has resigned, as he was someone who spoke and wrote a lot about conscience and it was on that basis that I looked into my own conscience and felt I could no longer be a member of the Catholic Faith, due to all the recent scandals and lies and deceit.

With the disclosures by the St Vincent de Paul Association that 100,000 citizens approached them last year for support, and head teachers saying many pupils come to school without a breakfast, it’s absurd that our government has to borrow money to give to other countries as aid.

Many letters will be written about the promissory note, but I would like to discuss it from a different angle.

The news that the Government facilitated CIA rendition flights should be no surprise.

An ostensible advantage of the separation of Church and State is that law and politics can be based on scientific evidence rather than religious belief.

With the publication of the first comprehensive official report of the Magdalene laundries, the national debate has been sidetracked into political self-righteousness.

Today’s protest organised by the Irish Congress of Trade Unions (ICTU) is going ahead despite the best efforts of the Fine Gael/Labour Party sell-outs to sabotage it by spoofing that they have a fabulous deal and ‘sure, things will be alright from now on.’