Martin defends FF record on Ennis hospital

WITH three weeks to go before the 2011 General Election, the political heavy hitters are wasting no time in getting their campaigns started in Clare.

On Wednesday, new Fianna Fáil leader, Micheál Martin visited Ennis to rally support ahead of the February 25 polling day.
On Saturday, Fine Gael leader, Enda Kenny will conduct a whistle-stop tour of the county. He will visit Shannon Town Centre at 11.40am and is expected to arrive in the Temple Gate car park, Ennis at 12.45pm.
Former Minister for Defence, Tony Killeen has been handed something of a poisoned chalice in being appointed to the post of national Fianna Fáil director of elections. He is faced with the unenviable task of trying to salvage as many seats as possible for his beleaguered party in the 31st Dáil.
Mr Killeen, who is not seeking re-election in Clare, is responsible for devising the party’s overall general election strategy, overseeing selection conventions and deciding when to release the party’s policy papers on various issues in consultation with the committee.
On his visit to Ennis, Micheál Martin, a former minister for health, defended his party’s record in relation to the Mid-Western Regional Hospital, Ennis and the promised €39 million upgrade.
“All political parties made commitments in 2007 based on the projected growth rate of 5%. On that occasion, the growth rate didn’t materialise and we made it clear in 2007 that if there was a change in terms of growth and so on, we would have to change direction in policy. We couldn’t do everything we wanted to do,” he stated.
He noted there had been “continued investment” in the hospital, along with a reconfiguration of services.
He added that as well as the changing economy there had been an increase in the number of people working in the health services. He stated, “What is essential to the people of Clare and the Mid-West is that we develop a health service that guarantees the best outcomes for patients”.
Commenting on emergency department waiting times, he said, “It pains me and it upsets everyone that we have continued issues with A&E at particular times of the year. We are developing medical admission units and different practices on hospital sites to try and deal with overcrowding and we have also developed the primary care side.”
As the minister who established the HSE, he claimed the “bureaucracy can be streamlined”, although he warned against a dismantling of the structure. He insisted, “We have made very steady strides in health in Ireland over the last number of years. We still have a significant journey to go.”
Members of Ennis Chamber who met the Fianna Fáil leader, expressed concerns about commercial rates and development levies.
“We are committed to a review of these. I accept that commercial rates are too high and that has an impact on jobs and likewise with development levies,” Mr Martin responded. He appealed to local authorities to reflect on their policies.
Speaking about the current economic crisis, he put it to other political parties that the “time for fudging and shimmying is over. They have got to give a line by line detailed account of how they intend to get the deficit down.”
Commenting on the decision to run two Fianna Fáil candidates in the constituency, party stalwart Timmy Dooley and first-time candidate Dr John Hillery, Mr Martin said, “I am very confident that we have two very good candidates here and I am confident that they can win two seats”.