The Government’s indifference to the wishes of the people embodies an arrogance not seen for quite some time.

WILL the Ming Dynasty continue to rule in Roscommon, and if so, is the by-election to be remembered as Micheál Martin’s last stand — the beginning of the end for his leadership?

A scuffle during by-election campaigning has led to an allegation of an assault by Fine Gael TD Frank Feighan being made to gardaí.

A report into hospital death rates has found patients are 10 times more likely to die of a heart attack depending on where they are treated.

If media exposure equalled political success then surely Lucinda Creighton would be fast-tracked to the office of the Taoiseach by now.

Independent TD Luke Ming Flanagan has made a desperate plea to voters for support, admitting he has made mistakes but claiming he will go on to do “great things” for his people.

The equivalent of one person develops a potentially fatal hospital superbug bloodstream infection every four hours, figures revealed after a series of damning health service hygiene reports have shown.

Embattled Health Minister James Reilly has denied he is using HSE money as a political “slush fund” to aid his Cabinet colleagues.

The Coalition will lose more credibility as years of unpalatable decisions lie ahead, writes Political Editor Paul O’Brien.

THE HSE is investigating how highly sensitive patient records from the Midland Regional Hospital in Mullingar were found dumped in a public bin on the grounds of Roscommon Hospital — almost 80 kilometres away.

The Health Service Executive is to investigate claims that the private medical records of dozens of patients were found in a bin outside Roscommon County Hospital.

The Irish Association for Emergency Medicine (IAEM) has expressed grave concerns over the HSE decision to freeze recruitment at all levels.

THERE are 191 junior doctor posts vacant in hospitals around the country, the Health Service Executive has confirmed.

The Health Minister James Reilly has said if HIQA raises concerns that services are unsafe in certain hospitals it will not automatically mean those services are withdrawn.

HEALTH Minister James Reilly has declared a crackdown on drug costs after discovering that medicines can be bought up to 20 times cheaper across the border.

AS 1,000 people marched over the closure of Roscommon Hospital’s emergency department (ED), it emerged one doctor is on the verge of legal action against the health minister over figures presented to illustrate the need to shut the facility.

THERE Enda went again, shutting down yet another A and E — but this time it was his own personal Apology and Embarrassment Department that was getting the chop.

EMBATTLED Taoiseach Enda Kenny insisted he had nothing to apologise for as the hospital cutbacks row continued to dominate the Dáil.

THE row over the Taioseach’s pre-election commitment to Roscommon Hospital and the subsequent action of his government contrasts with his lack of a firm commitment to St Luke’s Cancer Hospital.

THE bitter political row over cutbacks at smaller hospitals widened last night as it emerged Tánaiste Eamon Gilmore also made broken election pledges to protect Roscommon services.

THE Taoiseach and Health Minister should make a public apology to the people of Roscommon, rebel Fine Gael councillors have demanded.

TAOISEACH Enda Kenny was forced into a humiliating climb-down last night as he denied deliberately misleading voters over hospital closures.

A PLEDGE on Roscommon County Hospital was made by the Taoiseach Enda Kenny in good faith, Minister of State for Europe Affairs Lucinda Creighton said yesterday.

Everybody knew that things were going to have to change economically in the current crisis and it was dishonest of any politicians to pretend otherwise. The issue has always been where to make the changes.

Sinn Féin Spokesperson on Health Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin is calling on the Taoiseach to honour his election commitment to the people of Roscommon, to retain the Emergency Department at Roscommon County Hospital.

HEALTH chiefs have identified a further ten hospitals with “significant risk” issues for patients.

Fine Gael TD Frank Feighan said today that if he had voted against the Government in a motion on Roscommon Hospital last night, it would have dealt a fatal blow to the stability of the Government.

Fine Gael TD Denis Naughten has voted against the Government in a motion to reverse cuts at Roscommon Hospital.

Thousands of people angry about the downgrading of services at Roscommon Hospital are due to protest in Dublin today.

THE mortality rate among heart patients who attend Roscommon Hospital is four times higher than the rate among patients attending University Hospital Galway, the health minister claimed last night.

REGARDING Michael Clifford’s article titled Politicians Pandering to Healthcare Fears (July 2), I take issue with his flippant statement in the last paragraph: ”The ultimate result of all this cowardice is that vast tracts of the population would rather have a substandard level of care on their doorstep than travel a relatively short distance for the best care on offer. It’s a sad reflection on both governors and the governed.”

Major disruption to train services in the Midlands this morning has been attributed to a protest in Athlone.

Health Minister Dr James Reilly has said there will be no reversal of the decision to close the 24-hour emergency department at Roscommon County Hospital.

Bigger hospitals offer better outcomes to patients brought in for urgent care out of main working hours, a consultant doctor has said.

The Taoiseach has defended the decision to close the Accident and Emergency unit at Roscommon Hospital from July 11.

HOSPITALS must stick to their budgets even if the measures needed attract negative publicity, Health Minister James Reilly has told the Health Service Executive.

ONE man was killed and three others were injured in a two-vehicle crash in Roscommon last night.

A man died this evening following a crash involving two vehicles in Co Roscommon.

A rally in support of retaining services at Roscommon County Hospital is getting underway around now in the town.

OVERTIME payouts to HSE staff cost the taxpayer more than €400 million in just two years, figures obtained by the Irish Examiner can reveal.

Up to 2,000 people took to the streets of Roscommon today to protest against the removal of acute services at Roscommon County Hospital.

THE attempted downgrade of Roscommon Hospital is an example of the lunacy that was pervasive in the 1960s when government was downgrading railways and canals.