Pensioner ashamed of them all

FOR the first time in my life I feel ashamed to be Irish.

I am ashamed of the Government that gave the over-70s free medical care knowing full well the State couldn’t afford it, and then did a craven U-turn when the storm broke.

I am ashamed of Enda Kenny and the rest of the opposition who jumped on the begging-bowl gravytrain instead of showing the leadership and integrity which the occasion demanded.

How I longed for a statesmanlike voice to be heard above the din, telling us all what we needed to hear rather than what we wanted to hear.

I am ashamed of the media which completely lost the run of itself. I can’t be the only one who felt a weird, prickly sensation on reading the over-the-top comments published on the issue.

Fortunately, I don’t hear much radio. I would probably have urgent need of the medical card which I had lost and found again!

Most of all, I am dumbfounded at the arrogance, hooliganism and sheer bad manners of the elderly protesters and their supporters.

Since when did being over 70 automatically entitle you to pity and respect and someone else’s money? At this point I had better mention that I am 77, that I am not rich, that I live on a pension, that I lost and regained my medical card during the recent pigs’ dinner, that my late husband and I enjoyed its fruits for the past seven years, coming out of the pharmacy with our large, free bags of life-saving goodies knowing full well there is no such thing as a free lunch and not letting that fact bother us too much.

When I thought it had ended I counted my blessings, of which there are many, and pondered on the foolhardiness of those who had made it possible back in 2001.

What bothers me most is the knowledge that there seems to be no statesmen waiting in the wings to replace the foolhardy.

Enda Kenny and the rest of the gutless opposition showed us their true colours.

Who was really surprised?

Sheila Griffin

Curragraigue

Blennerville

Tralee

Co Kerry