Problems that hinder action

Since Brexit negotiations began, our politicians and some media outlets have stressed the impotence of British civil servants and their masters in the House of Commons in handling the talks between the UK and the EU.

Over the last weekend two problems arose, one in each country. In the UK, home secretary Amber Rudd told the Commons she was unaware of her department having a target for expelling illegal immigrants, persons who have been through the court procedure and gone missing in the UK.

A letter from her officials turned up in the ‘Daily Telegraph’ and she resigned. This was not a matter of life or death. The opposition has now turned its attention to her predecessor – the current prime minister, Theresa May.

Returning to “our” problem, many women were not told about botched smear tests; we know 17 are dead and only two knew of the misdiagnoses.

Health Minister Simon Harris does not know who was responsible and nor does our Taoiseach Leo Varadkar, who said we should not jump to conclusions as to who was culpable until we have an enquiry.

In the Dáil, the Health Minister stated he had little faith in the management. Tony O’Brien, CEO of the HSE, stated the minister’s conclusion was wrong.

The Irish Independent (May 1) revealed the Department of Health has published a redacted version of the memo it sent to the minister on April 16. It shows Mr Harris was aware of the bid to stop the damning revelations about misdiagnoses of the tests at CervicalCheck being made public.

Were it not for the courageous stand taken by Vicky Phelan everything would be OK in the Cabinet and they could continue to convince the plain people of Ireland that a referendum Yes vote was in the interests of women and the health department could be trusted. Hugh Duffy Cleggan, Co Galway