Anger over health issues hurt Fianna Fáil in local elections

WHEN cancer campaigners from Waterford last convened on the Dáil on February 9 of this year, Junior Health Minister Brian Lenihan conceded that the radiotherapy issue had cost the Government dearly in the local elections.

Fianna Fáil lost seven seats on city and county councils last June. A major march in Waterford, attended by up to 10,000 people in the run-up to that vote, had a huge impact.

A campaign organised by local woman Sheila McGrath also affected the vote. Her sisters, Margaret, 50, and Ellen, 56, both suffered from breast cancer and had to travel to Dublin and Cork for radiotherapy.

Unfortunately, Margaret lost her battle with the disease on St Stephen’s Day 2004. Sheila’s campaign consisted of a poster with just four words on it - No radiotherapy, No Vote.

Mr Linehan has conceded that the campaign, which included numerous marches through Waterford, caused Fianna Fáil and the Progressive Democrats “an awful lot of trouble” in the South-East.

“The Taoiseach wants to send the message that the door is ajar on the issue, that Mary Harney is doing a feasibility study and that she will come back,” he told campaigners from Waterford on February 9.

The campaign for full radiotherapy services in the South-East will be stepped up until they are provided, Waterford Mayor Seamus Ryan has vowed.

The research upon which the nationwide cancer strategy was based was out of date, and had the correct census figures been used in the Hollywood Report, Waterford and the south east would qualify for radiotherapy services, he said.

“We are not going away. We’re in it for the long haul and will continue to fight for radiotherapy services at Waterford Regional Hospital until we get it.”

Another march on the Dáil is planned on May 12. Momentum is also building in the neighbouring counties of Kilkenny, Carlow and south Tipperary.