Sorry seems to be the easiest word
Irish Rail regrets any inconvenience caused due to the late arrival of this train.
This is a familiar refrain over the tannoy to regular rail commuters in Ireland. I question the sincerity of the regret. If they were truly sorry they would be falling over themselves to pay me back the fare. And they’re not the only ones at it. Up and down the country the service industry fobs off consumers with a token apology whenever they mess up or fail to live up to their promises. We’ve heard so many apologies that their value is meaningless. The upper echelons of our government are abusing the tactic wholesale. Exhibit A:
Ms Harney began her 30-minute speech with a series of apologies: to the patients of Portlaoise for the anguish and distress that had been caused, to the nine women whose breast cancer treatment was delayed and to 97 women who found out about their ultrasound scans being reviewed via an Oireachtas health committee.
People have died due to negligence by the HSE. Mary Harney stands up in the Dáil, apologises, feels terrible about all the hurt and pain, sheds a few tears, appeals to the opposition to leave her alone, then sits down and starts playing with her mobile phone. People have died due to negligence by the HSE. No one will resign. No one will be fired. No one will go to jail. People have died due to negligence by the HSE.
I would like to feel sorry for Mary Harney and her troubles. My heart would like to bleed. But given the state of the health service it’s a luxury I cannot afford.
Mark Waters marked time at 1:50 pm on November 28th, 2007 .
I think a lack of accountability is culturally endemic. It’s not just an issue for the HSE, it’s an issue through out most of industry, private or otherwise. Management seems to consist of not having to take responsibility for anything at all.