Republican News · Thursday 3 April 2003

A litany of broken healthcare promises

BY JOANNE CORCORAN

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin lambasted the Fianna Fáil/PD government's dismal record on healthcare in the 26 Counties. Holding nothing back, the Dáil group leader read out a litany of broken healthcare promises.

"Before the General Election they promised to extend the Medical Card to a further 200,000 people and they broke their promise. They promised not just to cut but to eliminate hospital waiting lists after two years and that promise disappeared into thin air after the General Election. They repaid the electorate for their support by increasing the costs of medicines and hospital visits. And they have left health boards and hospitals with inadequate budgets so that we have the shameful prospect of beds being closed while the old and sick languish on waiting lists."

He added: "Their patron saint is Pontius Pilate as they stand aside and allow the closure by stealth of hospitals like Monaghan and Louth and watch gross inequality flourishing throughout the system."

Ó Caoláin concluded that the Irish people care more for a proper healthcare service, than tax cuts.

Cllr Pat O'Rawe, Assembly election candidate for Newry and Armagh, spoke in favour of a motion calling for Breastcheck cancer screening to be extended and fully resourced throughout the 26 Counties.

"When we think that Ireland has the third highest death rate from breast cancer in the European Union, we begin to realise just what a disgrace it is that women living in the west of the country do not have access to the 'national' screening programme.

Criticising the fact that only women between the ages of 50 and 64 can be screened, she said, "What is at work here is a combination of ageism and sexism - older women are being denied a service that could prevent them from dying from breast cancer.

Speaking on motions dealing with the issue of suicide, Cathy Staunton, Assembly Election candidate for North Belfast, said that the statistics on suicide in Ireland are shocking.

"Two years ago, over 600 Irish people took their own lives - 163 in the Six Counties and 448 in the 26.

"In the last 20 years, the number of young men in the Six Counties that kill themselves has more than doubled. The situation has got so bad that suicide is now the second highest cause of death among young men.

She spoke about the need to break down the taboo that surrounds suicide,

and criticised the lack of help for those contemplating this drastic action. "A third of people who commit suicide suffer from mental illness or have a family history of it," she said. "It is, therefore, extremely important in preventative terms that mental illness in young people is recognised as early as possible and dealt with appropriately."

Councillor Sean MacManus from Sligo said that nowhere has the government's cuts in healthcare been more clearly demonstrated than in the savage cuts on services for the mentally handicapped.

"Instead of the §38million allocated to this sector last year, the coalition has provided just §13.3 million for 2003. These cutbacks are scandalous. At present, there are over 4,000 people on waiting lists in need of residential, respite or day care."

Sue Ramsey, Assembly member for West Belfast, called on the administrations in the 6 and 26 Counties to provide adequate funding for the emergency services. She urged the Ard Fheis to reiterate its support of the fire brigade union in the Six Counties in their campaign to gain a decent wage for its members.

All motions in the health section were passed, with the exception of a motion calling for the banning of human cloning, which fell when another motion, calling for a debate on biotechnology, was passed.