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Brian Cowen should be learning his Mandarin phrases for his trip to China on Monday or at least downing a few pints in Clara.

Instead he’s in RTE studios in Montrose on a Friday night talking to Una O’Hagan wearing his sackcloth and talking about hard times, gravity and processes to review the medical card structure.

It’s all as clear as mud really and after starting the week attacking the people who receive the cards he’s trying to transfer the focus to the people receiving the fees – the GP’s. But I don’t think the older people and their families will feel any the less under threat after the Taoiseach’s Friday night visit to Donnybrook.