Mary Harney coming to Louth Hospital Monday 13th December 2010

Commenting on the imminent visit of Mary Harney to Louth County Hospital, Vice Chairman of the savoe Our hospital Services Committee, Tomás Sharkey said;

Louth people have shown their anger and hurt at this governments health policies many many times. But we will continue our dignified work by protesting this visit. We are asking everyone to come along from 10.30 to 12.30 on Monday to show you are still angry.

"We filled the town Hall, town square and streets as ordinary citizens. We spoke as one in saying that withdrawing services in Louth County hospital will have a domino effect on other services and leave patients.

"The ordinary people of Louth were right when we protested. We have a right to a proper health services and a right to be listened to. The HSE officials who composed the plans to close services were carrying out the orders, policies and wishes of a cabinet that decided long ago to treat the people of this area as guinea pigs in an experiment to see how long it would take for someone to die on their way to a distant hospital.

"We took signed pledges from representatives of Fianna Fail and the Greens as a word of honour. Those pledges that the parties would not allow any more closure of services and would replace lost services were bare faced lies and their signatures remain on the www.louthhospital.com website as a testament to their failure of the public.

"Mary Harney last visited our hospital in 2007 in a dizzy effort to salvage the political careers of her colleagues in that general election. She will not recognise the place now. The Acute medical wards are closed and the beds packed away. The Intensive Care Unit no longer exists and A&E is gone. She will view the fruits of her and her friends butchery of our services. Knowing her she will glow with pride.

"Mary Harney will probably be chapperoned by a colleague from the failing and disappearing government. They will be worse than any Camilla and Charles circus rolling into an English town demeaning the residents. Perhaps she will bring along some old pyjamas and bedclothes for the patients, just as the staff were asked to last month.

"Our protest will be dignified, will be made up of the ordinary community and will have a clear message for mary Harney and her policies - NO WELCOME HERE! - SHAME

"Our committee has contacted the HSE management and asked for a commitment that any member of staff who is unwilling to greet the Minister will not be subject to comment, reprimand or any negative actions from the management in the future."

Dundalk Supports MV Rachel Corrie, humanitarianism and Gaza

The MV Rachel Corrie sailed from Dundalk on a noble cause to help the people of Gaza. Unfortunately the bravery of Derek and Jenny Graham is not being matched by our government's actions.
1. In the winter of 2009, the EU signed a preferential trade agreement with Israel on agriculture and processed foods. This is after a promise to the contrary from Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mícheál Martin and while the Green Minister Trevor Sargent should have used his influence as Minister for Horticulture.
2. In April 2009 Iran characterised the white phosphorous bombing raids by Israel on the people of Gaza as the actions of a "cruel and racist regime." Irish officials at that conference in Geneva walked out in protest as part of an agreed EU pro Israeli strategy.
3.When Israel used the details of 8 Irish passports to arrange an assassination squad in Dubai, their ambassador only had to endure a 20 minute "direct and frank" discussion with our Minister for Foreign Affairs.
4. Despite the ongoing illegal blockade against Gaza, Micheál Martin refuses to support a boycott of Israeli goods.

It is now time for the members and elected representatives of all political parties to show some backbone and declare clearly that the Israeli Ambassador should be expelled and Israeli goods should be boycotted. Sinn Féin does.


Response to Yanky Fachler's outrageous defence of the massacre at sea in the Dundalk Leader;

4ú Meitheamh 2010
A Chara

Yanky Fachler made some outlandish insults against the fairminded people of Ireland in last weeks edition of the Dundalk Leader. He made what I can only describe as a hysterical attempt to justify the Israeli piracy and butchery on the high seas.

Yanky needs to know that Irish people are disgusted at the unprovoked, illegal boarding of a humanitarian flotilla and the murders carried out. This is not an anti-Semetic stance from the Irish people but a reasonable view of an outrageous action. We are not an "anti-Semetic" nation - that is a disgusting allegation. To be anti-semetic would be to oppose a religious view. The actions by Israel offend all religions.

Yanky seems to offer a veiled threat to the Irish people's economy by stating that opposing the recent outrage "is jeopardizing thebenefits of a good trading relationship with Israel." Is he threatening economic sanctions against us? Israel is the one that enjoys a preferential trade agreement with the EU - called Euromed.

Yanky draws an analogy with a scenario of Newry cascading bombs on Dundalk. The people of Gaza had their hospitals, schools, homes levelled by Israeli airplanes and were rained upon with Israeli white phosphorous bombs. Israel has blockaded Gaza against all international laws.

Israeli people are good people. Their defence forces are murderers and are not worthy of apologists.

Le Meas

Tomás Sharkey

Louth County Council

Dermot Ahern- does he have a sense of privelege over the rest of us?

Last week during the confidence debate on Willie O'Dea Dermot Ahern did a bit of heckling. That is lively debate and adds to the occassion. However, Minister Ahern made one comment which annoys me. He referred to "guttersnipe politics" in a demeaning way.

"Guttersnipe" is an interesting phrase. It refers to a snipe which is a common bird but the gutter element refers to the economically unfortunate children who had to gather rubbish on the sides of the street to get by in daily life.

If there is such thing as guttersnipe politics, it would refer to the outlook that young people who have very little material means have on how government should work.

This view would give a clear firsthand analysis of our world and cant be ignored. Today more and more families are on the edge of economic doom, more and more children are feeling the pinch of recession. Youth unemployment is out of control across Ireland and definitely in Dermot Ahern's town of Dundalk. I believe that these real people should be listened to more and not demeaned in a heckling match to save a failing Minister ODea's hide.

In using this remark, I fear that Dermot Ahern is demonstrating his air of privelege over the rest of us. He took a pay cut in the thousands but probably wont have to turn the thermostat on his heating to make ends meet - at worst the holiday home will wait longer for new furniture.

There will be a lot of debate this week about various Minister's suitability. That debate will take it's course. Nobody need guess as to my preferred result. To me, this week, where more people are laid off, more families with be cutting back on essentials, I wish that the term guttersnipe not carry demeaning tones but actually focus our minds on how governments regard the economic victims of misgovernment.

Government set on closing hospital services

Tonight the local papers in County Meath are reporting an internal HSE document on moving services from hospitals in Meath and Louth.
The document details what moves are to be made this year in the context of a reduced budget. The strange thing is the cuts /closures are identical to the government plans written during the boom years when money was no object. The recession is only an excuse or what the government always wanted to do; close A&E, Intensive Care and Acute Medical Services.
These cuts are planned for our hospital in Dundalk. Louth County Hospital has received commendatios for years. It is spotless. It makes no sense to any right minded person. Dundalk Town Hall was packed last November with people who wanted to save our services. Fianna Fáil TDs didnt show up but sent a goon to fight with elderly women and throw all sorts of allegations around. 7,000 people turned up at the square in December but no sign of a Fianna Fáil TD.
The only people who are driving the closures of services are Fianna Fáil and Green Party politicians (in Dundalk they rfused to sign a declaration to resign from their parties if services were closed). HSE officials are implementing the wishes of their political bosses at cabinet. These HSE officials attended an internal Fianna Fáil meeting in December - who all was at that meeting? What Councillors? which of your neighbours?

So in summary;
Our 24 hour A&E to go 12 hours and then become Minor Injuries Clinic.
Our Intensive Care to be lost.
Our Acute Medical Services to go.

The government dont have th guts to admit this wasalways their plan. They are now blaming lack of funds. Here are some solutions;
1. Reverse the cut in funding to the Lourdes as punishment for underperformance.
2. Capthe salaris of Consultants.
3. Buy in generic drugs at a fraction of the price.
4. Stop using taxpayers money to grant aid private hospitals.

There is no financial excuse for closing services. The only reason is that this government wants it to happen. They must go.

How Louth County Council is dealing with the weather.

Below is a copy of the text received by all County Councillors in Louth on Friday 8th January 2010.

8th January 2010
TO: MEMBERS OF LOUTH COUNTY COUNCIL

Re: Current Adverse Weather Conditions

Dear Councillor

I refer to the above matter and would like to take the opportunity to outline the current situation.

In relation to the roads network, I can confirm that roads have been salted for the last 24 nights in succession. I can confirm that National (120km), Regional (250km) and Urban roads are in good condition. Only roads that were indicated on a map circulated at the Louth County Council December meeting are being salted. In both towns for the same period, a specified route only is being maintained. No local roads have been salted and these are generally being reported as being in poor condition with care needed if using same. The only exception currently in place is in the case of funerals and these are being managed by the relevant Area Engineer.

As of today, Friday 8th January we have salt supplies for 3-4 nights of frost only. If there is a heavy fall of snow this will only last for 2 days at most and in this eventuality salting will be on national routes only. The decision will be made at the time of the snow and available salt stocks at that time. I can confirm that all salting in the County of Louth and management of salt stocks is being co-ordinated by the Senior Engineer, Roads.

The local authorities are also dealing with a significant number of issues in the water services area at both plant level and individual dwelling houses. Staff will continue to work over the weekend in this area and additional resources have also been deployed where necessary.

The council has also circulated information in relation to care of the elderly to over 250 groupings during this time.

The Major Emergency Planning process is being utilised currently and co-ordinating meetings have been held with An Garda Siochana and Health Service Executive Personnel. This monitoring and co-ordination will continue until the current situation abates.

If matters change, I will make further details available.

Yours sincerely