O’Brien Criticises TDs Over Hospital Vote

O’Brien Criticises TDs Over Hospital Vote

Sinn Féin TD for Cork North Central Jonathan O’Brien has criticised Fine Gael and Labour TDs for failing people on the Northside by voting against a Sinn Féin bill calling on the Government to halt its policy of cuts and closures to hospital services.

Deputy O’Brien asked why local TDs Dara Murphy and Kathleen Lynch did not vote to stop health cutbacks, including the closure of the Orthopaedic Hospital, by supporting Sinn Féin's bill.

"For too long access to quality health services in Ireland has depended on how much money you earn and where you live. This is being further compounded by the Government's policy of downgrading services at a number of hospitals across the country. In my own constituency, the closure of the Orthopaedic means there will not be a single public hospital serving the people of Cork’s Northside.”

"In the Dáil yesterday we presented local TDs with a clear option, to support the Sinn Féin motion and support the retention of services at hospitals like the Orthopaedic. Do otherwise and guarantee the opposite. The TDs made their position clear."

“I am particularly disappointed that local TDs like Dara Murphy and Kathleen Lynch, who had been vocal in their support of the Orthopaedic during the election campaign, voted against the Sinn Féin motion – particularly as one Fine Gael TD, Denis Naughton from Roscommon, crossed the floor to support us. The people of Cork’s Northside will rightly ask these TDs what became of the promises they made on the issue during the election campaign.”

For further information contact Deputy Jonathan O’Brien at 086-0274142