Anne Ferris (Wicklow, Labour)

I am very happy to share the time with Deputy Boyd Barrett. I raised the matter this morning under Standing Order 32. I am sorry there are not more Deputies from the Wicklow and Dún Laoghaire constituencies to lend their support.

I too was shocked to learn of the HSE's decision to downgrade the accident and emergency services in St. Columcille's Hospital. This news was delivered in the form of an e-mail sent to public representatives and the media without any consultation with any public representatives. The decision makes no sense. As it stands the hospital's accident and emergency service serves approximately 21,000 cases every year. This proposal would mean that all those people would need to transfer from St. Columcille's all the way into St. Vincent's Hospital, which will cost people their lives and is a further example of the mismanagement of the health service by the Fianna Fáil-led Government. While we have inherited this legacy, I call on the Minister for Health to intervene with the HSE to reverse this decision.

Thousands of people from County Wicklow rely on the accident and emergency facilities in St. Columcille's Hospital every year. If they were forced to travel from somewhere like Carnew, Rathdrum or Aughrim - never mid Bray where I live - into St. Vincent's Hospital their lives will be put at risk. God forbid, if I ever have an accident in time to come, I hope it takes place here in Leinster House because I would be nearer to St. Vincent's Hospital than I would be at home in Bray.

The Labour Party has campaigned for years for the service at St. Columcille's Hospital to be saved because it was under threat in recent years. We ran a "save our services" campaign, which was very successful in retaining the accident and emergency unit in Loughlinstown. I raised the issue at a meeting with the Tánaiste this morning and he informed me that he only learned about it yesterday and has already met the Minister for Health to express his outrage with the HSE. I know he has written to the CEO of the HSE today demanding a meeting.

This issue is too important to be turned into a political football and I call on all public representatives living in County Wicklow, Dún Laoghaire and those parts of County Wexford that will be affected by the closure to stand together in a joint effort to reverse this unnecessary and illogical decision. The Minister of State told Deputy Costello the matter of designating an additional national holiday for Bloomsday was not among the Government's priorities. Let us hope Loughlinstown hospital is.

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