Sir, - As a citizen of the State I am entitled to health care. Because I choose to, I pay health insurance. This is to upgrade my health care. It is to improve the care I can receive from the State, not to replace that care.
The State does not subsidise my private care. If anything, my private care is subsidising what I should be getting from the State anyway. If the health service was what it should be I would have no need for private health care at all. If I am unlucky enough to go to hospital, I am entitled to a bed and all medical care required. As a taxpayer, I pay for this service, such as it is.
Between now and retirement I can expect to give the state over £500,000 in direct taxes alone. For that I get sub-standard roads, health care, public transport, and so on, in an endless list. The only thing I get too much of is TDs, who whine about their salaries while being very careful not to highlight the true benefits they receive. I don't believe for one minute that a politician would be left on a hospital trolley for three days awaiting treatment, as has happened on more than one occasion to mere mortals. Mere mortals have no chance of receiving a pension after a few years' work either. - Yours etc.,
Garry Clarke, Spricklestown, The Ward, Co Dublin.