Senator should have seen the anger at first hand

I WAS bemused to read Senator Geraldine Feeney’s comments (October 24) that she was “absolutely horrified” at the behaviour of older people who participated in the public meeting organised by Age Action to highlight their concerns at the Government’s decision to abolish the automatic entitlement to a medical card for over-70s.

The meeting was organised to accommodate TDs and senators so they could hear first hand the views of older people. All TDs and senators were invited to attend.

Ironically, although Senator Feeney did not attend she saw fit publicly to condemn people at the meeting, having watched them on television. If she had attended, she might have learnt why older people are so angry.

Age Action regrets the fact that minister of state John Moloney was shouted down by some of the audience and consequently did not address the meeting. However, we understand why people felt so angry and respect their right to express this anger.

As a public representative, it might be more valuable if Senator Feeney had turned up and listened to older people, rather than use the meeting as an opportunity to gain publicity for herself.

It is interesting to note that the senator has focused on the treatment of her party colleague by members of the audience rather than the subject of the meeting, which was the ending of the automatic entitlement of over-70s to a medical card.

Eamon Timmins

Head of Advocacy and Communications

Age Action

30/31 Lr Camden Street

Dublin 2