‘Intolerant’ pensioners

I was pleased to read Senator Geraldine Feeney (October 24) on the bad manners and intolerance shown by pensioners in St Andrew’s Church in Dublin when they shouted down two ministers of state and a Green party speaker.

The medical card scheme for the over-70s was a very generous handout to the medical profession whose leading light was former IMO president Dr James Reilly, now a Fine Gael TD and the party spokesman on health.

Those who behaved with such vehemence against Fianna Fáil would do well to remember rainbow coalition minister Proinsias de Rossa who gave pensioners two punts extra in the weekly pension. There is great divergence on this issue, as highlighted by your report.

Frank Burns

Swiss Cottage

Browningstown Park

Cork