TAOISEACH ENDA KENNY made a pre-election promise to “protect and defend” the A&E unit that will be shut down tomorrow, it has emerged.

In a speech made in Roscommon town on February 8, Kenny called on listeners to vote for local Fine Gael TDs Frank Feighan and Denis Naughten, a recording made by the Sunday Business Post (print edition) shows. He added “You know in the accident and emergency [...] what can be done in your own local hospital here.

“We will protect and defend that [...] We are committed to maintaining the services at Roscommon General Hospital.”

A spokesman for the Taoiseach said “any commitments” were made before a HIQA report which raised safety fears.

The paper also reports that Minister for Health Dr James Reilly pushed for the downgraded facility at the hospital to be labelled an “urgent care centre”, rather than the HSE’s preferred “minor injury unit”. The downgrading of services has sparked furious protests from local resdents.

Read Niamh Connolly and Susan Mitchell’s full report in the print edition of the Sunday Business Post >

Read more: Government wins Roscommon Hospital vote amid Dáil protests >

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