A chara, - Comhghairdeachas to Dr Jerry Crowley, TD for having the courage to question the priorities of the present Government in allocating funds to sporting bodies such as the GAA when people are dying on waiting lists for cancer treatment and care.
While Danny Lynch's predictable response (March 12th) completely missed the point, it prompted me to think of other "sacred cows" whose voracious appetites for public funds should be at least examined when our public health services are being so drastically affected by undeclared Government cuts.
As a committed GAA supporter and Gaeilgeoir, I have no hesitation in suggesting that the funding of some aspects of the Irish language should be examined in order to divert badly needed funds to our hospitals and health services for a time.
I am prepared to bet that a 10 to 15 per cent reallocation of funds in this way would significantly improve our "Third World" hospital waiting lists and community health services so desperately in need of ever-reducing support.
For those who would question my estimate of the effect this reallocation could have, I challenge anybody in Government or the public service to provide even the wildest estimate of what is actually "spent/wasted" in any one year on this our last remaining and untouchable "sacred cow".
I believe that no such estimate or evaluation can be made because of the nefarious ways in which the funding is allocated and the lack of accountability for its use by the various organisations which receive it.
I believe also that many genuine Gaeilgeoirí would be pleased to see funds diverted in this way if it would provide even minimal levels of comfort to terminally ill patients and their families as per Dr Crowley's laudable efforts on their behalf - na lagadh Dia a lámh laidir!
An bhfhuill éinne amach ansin a bhfhuill crógach go leor an fadhb seo a glacadh?
Ní dóigh liom go bhfhuill! - Is mise,
SEÁN Ó DHUIBHIR,
Beann Eadair,
Átha Cliath.