Cancer treatment campaigners plan protest

Activists against the closure of Ireland’s main radiotherapy treatment centre for cancer sufferers will step up their campaign today.

The Save St Luke’s Campaign will stage a protest outside the constituency office of Michael McDowell.

The local TD, Tánaiste and Progressive Democrats leader is being called on to state his position regarding the future of the hospital.

For almost half a century St Luke’s, in Rathgar, has treated patients from all over the county, but it plans to move its oncology services to St James’s Hospital by 2011.

“We are holding this protest at Michael McDowell’s constituency office for he was part of the Government who made this decision,” said Rory Hearne, People Before Profit candidate for Dublin South East.

“He should publicly state what his position on the hospital is.”

Activists are distributing thousands of flyers around the constituency stating “No Hospital: No Vote”, with voters also being told not to support FF/PD candidates in the upcoming election.

“The response from people around Dublin South East has been one of shock and anger that the Government is closing St Luke’s,” continued Mr Hearne.

“We are leading a campaign to save the hospital. It is the pressures of privatisation and developers’ profit that lie behind the reasons for its closure.”

The Save St Luke’s Campaign will protest at Mr McDowell’s constituency office in the Triangle, Ranelagh, at 2pm.