Healthcare an issue, plus unemployment

THE veracity of my account about health costs in the Irish Republic is challenged.

It should be noted that the Republic of Ireland has a two-tier health service, and does not have a comprehensive health service free at the point of delivery.

Peruse the internet and you will see the online debate about the scandal of healthcare in Ireland.

Even the most virulent nationalist party, Sinn Fein, acknowledges this as one of the greatest obstacles to Irish unity.

In the Republic over 40% of the population pay for private healthcare.

This is the highest percentage in the European Union.

The average family can spend up to €7,000 a year on healthcare.

Those with no health insurance pay the fees I mentioned.

Chronic lack of hospital beds have been an ongoing scandal. A recent article in the Economist is available online.

As I correctly stated, unemployment is considerably higher than in the United Kingdom.

There are literally tens of thousands of Irish young professional people working in Britain. As they have unrestricted entry to Britain and full citizen rights, this has proved a useful safety valve in a century of Irish independence.

Close this escape valve off and Ireland would be begging for a new deal.

However, another decisive factor in the Irish context is the massive immigration that the country has experienced in the past 20 years. Now only 80% of the population is Irish born. The Irish government wants to attract another million immigrants over the next decade. Could you imagine Plaid Cymru wanting their core constituency swamped even further by mass immigration? Robert Ian Williams Bangor on Dee