Sinn Féin causes first Dáil shock for Coalition

Emergency – Hospitals in danger

Angry protesters surround the Dáil as the Sinn Féin health cuts motion is debated inside

» BY MÍCHEÁL Mac DONNCHA

PEOPLE from across the West of Ireland served by Roscommon County Hospital rallied outside the Dáil on 6th July to protest at the axing of the hospital’s Emergency Department (ED). The rally coincided with the Dáil debate on a Sinn Féin motion calling on Government TDs to fulfil their election commitments to retain services at local hospitals — a motion that caused the first Dáil shock for the Coalition when one of its TDs broke ranks.
On the very day the Sinn Féin debate began, 5th July, the HSE announced the closure of the Roscommon ED. Pressure immediately mounted on the two Fine Gael Roscommon TDs who had pledged to defend the hospital - Denis Naughten and Frank Feighan. Naughten said before the general election:
“Not only will Fine Gael retain all existing services at the hospital but we will also enhance and develop services . . . I made it clear that if, down the road, those commitments were not delivered upon then, yes, I would be prepared to resign the party whip.”
When the vote came, Naughten supported the Sinn Féin motion by voting against the Government amendment. Feighan voted with the Government. It was doubly embarrassing for the Fine Gael/Labour Coalition as Naughten is the recently-elected chairperson of the Oireachtas Health & Children Committee.
Sinn Féin Health spokesperson Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin TD described the axing of Roscommon as “an absolutely disgraceful decision”. Opening the Dáil debate for Sinn Féin, Ó Caoláin said:
“This action is in flagrant violation of the clear and unambiguous commitments given by Fine Gael deputies in advance of the general election.
“Without question, this minister, his party, his Coalition partners and the Government collectively are breaking their commitment to retain at this hospital the services which were present on the formation of the 31st Dáil.
“Minister Reilly claims that the A&E at Roscommon was not safe but also claims he was not aware of that at the time he made his pre-election commitment.
“But I put it to the minister that it was very well known all along that Roscommon A&E was under threat in the so-called reconfiguration plans for hospitals which were so ardently pursued by former Health Minister Mary Harney and former HSE Chief Brendan Drumm.
“This motion is not just about Roscommon Hospital. If the axe falls on Roscommon’s A&E it will surely fall elsewhere as well.
“Tá straitéis ann le fada chun seirbhísí in ospidéil timpeall na tíre seo a ghearradh siar. Ní rud nua é seo. Bhí sé mar príomh-aidhm ag an iar-Aire Sláinte Mary Harney, le tacaíocht ó Fhianna Fáil i rialtas ó 1997.
“I can speak from long and bitter experience. The words we are hearing now from the minister and the HSE were the same words used to justify the downgrading of Monaghan General Hospital. It was downgraded and dismantled service by service, beginning with maternity services and eventually removing A&E. The strategy was to starve the hospital of resources up to the point where it was deemed unsafe.
“There are currently around 1,600 public hospital beds closed due to cutbacks. Today on RTÉ’s Morning Ireland we had former HSE chief Brendan Drumm still maintaining that we have too many hospital beds. And this at a time when A&E units are overflowing and waiting lists for acute hospital beds are growing.
“When Monaghan was downgraded and acute care ended, not a single additional in-patient bed was provided at Cavan General Hospital and the Lourdes Hospital in Drogheda to which patients formerly treated in Monaghan have to go. These hospitals today continue to be over-stretched and under-resourced. This is the type of scenario that other hospitals face if they are given the Monaghan and Roscommon treatment.”

The Sinn Féin motion

That Dáil Éireann calls on the Government to stand by its commitments and ensure:-
• The continuation of all existing accident and emergency services at hospitals across the state as promised by candidates of the Fine Gael and Labour parties in advance of the general election, including Roscommon, Navan, Letterkenny, Portlaoise, St Columcille’s (Loughlinstown), Portiuncula (Ballinasloe), the Mid-Western (Limerick), Clonmel, Mallow and Bantry
• The retention of key services such as orthopaedic services at St Mary’s Hospital, Cork, and the return of comprehensive breast cancer services to Sligo, also as committed by candidates of the parties now in Government
• Equal access to safe and efficient hospital services for all, without discrimination based on income or geographic location