Clare’s opposition TD has dismissed a recent meeting of MidWest politicians over the HIQA review as an optics exercise.
Only government Oireachtas members from Clare and Limerick along with Mayor of Clare Paul Murphy attended the event, where they decided to lend support to a three-tiered HSE plan aiming to solve overcrowding in the region.
Despite being invited, TDs from Sinn Féin, Labour and Independent Ireland declined to attend.
Shannon Sinn Féin Deputy Donna McGettigan believes it was a talking shop that won’t deliver real results.
Listen to the full interview here
Statement from Bodyke Fine Gael TD Joe Cooney, who organised the meeting:
“I want to make it clear that the recent meeting of Mid West Oireachtas members to discuss the HIQA review was issued in good faith and entirely apolitical.
“Invitations were issued well in advance to all Oireachtas members representing Clare, Limerick, and North Tipperary, regardless of party affiliation.
“The purpose was simple, to bring public representatives together to address the options provided for emergency health services in our region identified in the HIQA report .
“None of the Sinn Fein members chose to attend, which was unfortunate, given the urgency of the issues discussed and the opportunity to work collaboratively on solutions that would benefit all our constituents.
“In the spirit of inclusion and cooperation, I have now extended a further invitation to all Oireachtas members to attend a follow-up meeting of Mid West Oireachtas members in Leinster House on November 5th. This meeting has been arranged to continue our collective efforts to secure meaningful investment in health services across the region.
“While most of us agree on a solution the real challenge will be to get political consensus as to where these solutions are located.
“Invitations have also been sent to the Minister for Health and senior officials from the Department of Health to attend and engage directly with us.
“I sincerely hope Deputy McGettigan will join us. For too long, Oireachtas members from the Mid West have not worked as a united group to maximise badly needed investment in our health infrastructure.
“We were elected to represent our constituents, and healthcare is one issue that should rise above party politics.
“We now have a real opportunity to collectively pressure the Department and support the HSE Mid-West in delivering positive change for the people of Clare, Limerick, and North Tipperary.”
