Labour to hold anniversary overcrowding demo
The Labour Party will today mark the third anniversary of its weekly protest at the Accident & Emergency unit of Dublin’s Mater Hospital with a major demo.
The protest will be led by Dublin Central TD Joe Costello and deputy leader and front bench health spokesperson Liz McManus.
Mr Costello said that the Mater, which is situated in the Taoiseach’s constituency, is one of the worst examples of the chaos in the state’s A&E units.
“After nine years in power, three different ministers for health, and a total spend of 60 billion euro, the Government has failed to address the crisis.
“The Mater is simply one of the worst examples of this shambles.”
Mr Costello said that his constituents were reluctant to attend the hospital because of the testimonies of those who have only received treatment after hours or days waiting on hospital trolleys.
“This should not be the case in one of the richest countries in the world that has experienced unprecedented prosperity in recent years.
“Our weekly demonstrations are now three years old. Yet in that time the situation at the Mater – one of the largest hospitals in the country – has only got worse.
“It is a disgrace that such a crisis should exist in the Taoiseach’s own constituency.”
Mr Costello urged as many people as possible to join the protest to send a message to the Government that enough was enough.
