Captaining the Titanic a more appealing option than Health

Those bubbles might once have been sound bites, now they are the foam formed by a minister gulping for air, writes Gerard Howlin

Words and meaning have parted company in the CervicalCheck scandal. Tony O’Brien, the outgoing director general of the HSE, rescues the situation slightly. For as many days more as he remains in place, he provides a target for ire.

Having something to fire towards is politically essential. The fact that he bears part of the responsibility makes his casting as the leading man apparently credible.