We see ourselves as an outgoing people, almost half of whom live in a wonderfully healthy rural environment and have a wonderful stress-free life. Ireland's image to outsiders is of a wonderful island of reduced stress. For that reason it is important to state the reality that we are quite a sick country. I will cite statistics from an address given by David Begg, general secretary of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions, in Galway in March 2002. At 65, we have the worst life expectancy in Europe, at 79, the second lowest life expectancy for women. We have the highest rate of premature death caused by coronary problems, the second worst cancer death rate among women, the lowest acute bed ratio, and so on.