Loughlinstown hospital protest to take place

The latest in a series of protests against the downgrading of A&E services at Loughlinstown Hospital in south Co Dublin takes place today.

Protest organisers say the Government is not giving clear answers as to plans for Loughlinstown A&E, with officials saying only that services in the hospital's Emergency Department will be re-configured.

The protest will begin at 2pm outside St. Anne's Church in Shankill.

"It is clear that our vital health services are being slashed in order to pay off the gambling debts of bankers and speculators, under the diktat of the EU/IMF," said Richard Boyd Barrett, TD for the People Before Profit Alliance.

"And whether it is Roscommon, or previous threats to Portlaoise, or what's happening in Limerick - A&E services around the country including Loughlinstown are under threat because of the bankruptcy of this Government's policy in terms of paying off bondholders."