TDs split down the middle on central issue
Fine Gael's Michael D'Arcy is clear about where he stands on the idea of cancer services moving from his Wexford constituency to a new facility in neighbouring Co Waterford.
Pulling no punches, he says simply: "We need to do what's right. What's right is to improve people's chances of surviving cancer. Votes can never enter the equation."
His colleague Paul Kehoe is equally blunt. He supports the centre, even though Wexford General Hospital will lose out.
He also knows it won't be too popular with older voters. "Older people have fierce reservations about travelling. If you take a person over 70 years of age, they think it (Waterford) is a different country."
Their answers demonstrate the gulf between those who are prepared to nail their colours to the mast and those, like Junior Health Minister Jimmy Devins, who want to have it both ways.
Mr Devins, faced with the increasingly unpopular idea of Sligo General Hospital losing its cancer treatment services, loudly proclaims his opposition.
Yet in the same breath he says he supports the idea of the national centres of excellence.
One answer is designed to ease fears in Sligo. One is designed to placate his boss Mary Harney.
The Irish Independent contacted all 63 TDs who live in constituencies where local hospitals are to lose cancer treatment services.
The politicians were asked: "Do you support removal of local services in your area to facilitate the centralisation of cancer care in eight hospitals?"
Some 53 replied -- 10, including Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny, did not. Most gave a yes or no answer, a handful were unable to answer either way.
Surprisingly, most Midlands TDs back the transfer of cancer treatment services to Dublin.
Mr Fleming added: "I believe the first priority is the best treatment. Travelling is very important but the treatment is more important than travel."
A geographical split among TDs has emerged, with a majority along the western seaboard opposed to the plans. In Kerry, Fine Gael's Jimmy Dennihan, Sinn Fein's Martin Ferris, Tom McEllistrim of Fianna Fail and independent Jackie Healy-Rae expressed firm opposition.
"At least leave us some services in Tralee. There are people in the Dingle Peninsula, Caherciveen and Valentia Island -- how would you like sending people from there to Cork?" said Mr Healy-Rae.
In Sligo, the local TDs appear to be united against the idea of people having to travel to Galway, almost two hours away.
Fine Gael's John Perry said "We have a centre of excellence at Sligo General, which provides triple assessment and has a new state-of-the-art machine for mammograms.
"They will touch this service at their peril. It would be taking the very heart out of Sligo General. We have to stand up and fight."
Backbencher Eamon Scanlon is also against the move and, on the surface, Mr Devins is too.
He said: "I support the concept of centres of excellence but I strongly believe that the services here in Sligo General are of a sufficient quality to be able to be networked into the system."
So he's against the cuts in Sligo but claims to be a supporter of the overall idea of centres of excellence. What will his boss say?
- Ciaran Byrne
