WHEN I was serving as an MEP on the committee responsible for public health, I received a great deal of glossy, well-produced literature, invitations to free lunches and dinners and even an offer of an all-expenses-paid trip to America to convince me to support the so-called cervical cancer vaccine.

THERE are some things worth protesting about. Recently, I took to the streets to retain the medical card for the over-70s, stop the education cuts and highlight the reduction in assistance to people with disabilities.