Wreckers of the nation appear in a new guise

ONLY in Ireland could the people who destroyed the country find the nerve to depict themselves as responsible stewards of the nation in the build-up to the budget. I feel like a burglar is giving me advice about setting up a neighbourhood watch scheme.

I had to rub my eyes in disbelief when I heard Health Minister Mary Harney say she was considering the introduction of a prescription charge because too many items were being prescribed by GPs, and this was not good for the general health of the nation.

Am I going mad? Did I actually hear the Minister for Health explain she was relying on taxing the poor as a means of influencing health policy? The minister has more than 500 civil servants, and this is their cunning plan to control drug over-prescription?