In his recent article (Feb 11), Gerard Howlin writes that “Modern Ireland must have a place for the Catholic Church”.

For how much longer will the Minister for Justice and Defence Alan Shatter continue to obfuscate and filibuster on the issue of those who were incarcerated in the Protestant-run Bethany home?

News of the €22m in cuts to CUH budget, as well as what can only be described as an all-out attack on other hospitals in Cork as announced in the HSE plans, represents the final nail in the coffin for health services in the region.

Taoiseach Enda Kenny’s recent comments to the American media stating that “we’ll pay our dues in full and on time”, adding that “while it’s difficult for our people and challenging for our country, we know we’re headed in the right direction” brushed casually aside the needless suffering being inflicted on the Irish populace and were reminiscent of the worst utterances of his predecessor.

The conversation on the neutrality issue within the columns of the Irish Examiner is enlightening and long overdue.

I refer to Dervla Murphy’s article (Feb 9), which was, in my opinion, a travesty.

The Minister for the Environment is introducing regulations that may well recommend that all or most existing septic tanks should be desludged or emptied over the coming year.

Seán McCárthaigh’s report (Irish Examiner, Feb 11) on the predicted increase in cancer cases and the danger that cutbacks might impact negatively on those that fall ill to the disease makes for worrying reading.

‘What is history but a fable agreed upon’ is a well-known dictum attributed to Napoleon but one which Minister Shatter, Prof Roberts of UCC and others seem determined to uphold, in their critique of Ireland’s failure to join the ‘fight for freedom’ alongside the ‘anti-fascist Allied coalition’ in 1939.

Once again we have a chance to see French arrogance and ineptitude in action.