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MINISTER FOR HEALTH Stephen Donnelly has defended the advertisement run by Fianna Fáil general election candidate, Gráinne Seoige, in which she said that cancer services in Galway are the worst in the country, and if she is elected, she will work to ensure the sector receives investment.
In the ad, which was run in local media in Galway, the Galway West candidate said: “Did you know that treatment for cancer outcomes in Galway are the worst in the country?
“More investment can change this. If elected, I will works to bring this investment to ensure all people get equal treatment in Galway.”
The ad was run under the slogan “Grá for Galway”.
Seoige’s advertisement has received criticism across the board as Fianna Fáil have held the health brief for the duration of the last government. Yesterday, Seoige rejected claims that she was taking a swipe at her party colleague with the ad.
“I don’t believe that it’s a criticism of Stephen Donnelly at all,” she told The Irish Times.
Speaking on The Week In Politics on RTÉ, Donnelly refuted the idea that his party colleague was taking aim at his tenure as Minister for Health.
“Gráinne is calling out something that is very real. This has been a long standing issue,” he said.
“She’s standing up for the region. That’s why we’ve invested in an 80 million euro radiation therapy center. It’s why we’re committed to a new cancer center in Galway hospital. It’s why we have expanded cancer services over the last four years at an unprecedented rate.
“What Gráinne is calling out quite rightly, is that more needs to be done. It’s why we fully funded the National Cancer service, and it’s why we have such a big level of investment in cancer services now in Galway,” Donnelly said.
Sinn Féin Health spokesperson, David Cullinane, said that the Minister had previously said that Ireland is “halfway there” to achieving a world class public health system.
“After 100 years of Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael, we’re halfway there. Do we have to wait another 100 years?”
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I think the old people that were gathered up from hospitals en masse and shoved into under resourced nursing homes to die alone, at the behest of NPHET, deserve an inquest, never mind an inquiry. This government seems to have forgotten about them. The actions of those who made this disastrous decision, potentially amount to criminal malfeasance IMO. Unfortunately, this all looks like a back patting exercise. More akin to a PR stunt than a proper analysis. I suppose this government aren’t going to start caring about our elderly citizens all of a sudden so no surprise to see the whitewash unfold
Correcting their own homework
Another Waste of Public Money. ” Lessons will be Learned ” will be the Tagline after all that.
No wonder everything takes forever in Ireland . What with inquiries , Scoping Enquiries , reports , task forces , focus groups , commissions , study groups , tribunals .
‘we could be facing future pandemics in the future’ … well, we won’t be facing them in the past, Simon.
Is it five years coming? Of course, no need to be in any hurry? It seems Government doesn’t care except when a General Election is in the offing.
Is this realy necessary. Or just a waste of taxpayers money
Maybe they just want a pat on the back for being so great
Let’s hope whoever is appointed is safe and effective.
have the warehoused taxes been repaid yet?
@Niall English: they bloody well should be
I can’t wait
‘Building health system resilience through policy development in response to COVID-19 in Ireland: From shock to reform’. Burke, Sara et al. The Lancet Regional Health – Europe, Volume 9, 100223
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