This article is from page 6 of the 2008-04-29 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 6 JPG
COUNCILLORS have demanded that Minister for Health Mary Harney come clean and honour commitments made to the people of Clare regarding the future of Ennis General Hospital. Ms Harney’s credibility came under attack at yesterday’s monthly meeting of Clare County Council.
Members used the occasion to voice concerns over the lack of a definitive response on the future of Ennis Gen- eral Hospital.
Mayor of Clare Patricia McCarthy said current uncertainty and the ab- sence of honesty were a “dreadful indictment of the Government and of Mary Harney herself”.
Cllr McCarthy said, “I have been in politics for over 30 years and the thing I value most is my word. I am not saying Mary Harney is dishonest, but people are giving commitments in the interest of political expediency.”
The meeting was also told that a de- cision over the retention of 24-hour A and E at Ennis General Hospital and on the proposed €39 million in funding earmarked for Ennis rested with Brian Gilroy, National Director of the Health Services Executive.
There was also a warning to Fianna Fail members representing Clare in the Dail and to the party’s local grassroots ahead of next year’s local A TeL wey a Ise
Peter Considine, a senior member of the party and a long-serving mem- ber of Clare County Council, said that while there had been some 1m- provements at Ennis General Hospi- tal, “If that €39 million were to slip off the table, then a lot of people in the county will have to consider their position.”
Cllr Considine, who is recovering from a life-threatening illness, said he owed his life to the staff of Ennis General Hospital. “I wouldn’t have made it to Barefield or Clarecastle, let alone Limerick,” said Cllr Considine.
The chamber was debating a series of motions on Ennis General Hospi- tal. Cllr Joe Arkins (FG) asked that Minister Harney make a definitive statement on the future of the hospi- ee
He added that if past commitments were not honoured, Clare’s repre- sentatives in the Dail “would have to realistically consider their position”.
Cllr Pat Daly (FF) urged all mem- bers to write to Brian Gilroy at the HSE and ask him to keep Ennis Gen- eral open. Cllr Sonny Scanlon (FG) said, “I have the greatest respect for Timmy Dooley and the rest but they are only names.”
Cllr Brian Meaney (GP) said a recent report on an outbreak of Clostridium Difficille at Ennis Gen- eral Hospital highlighted significant ODKOLO) PON sLFO MOO ComorO lO bream E-LOVU IB [oe