Galway health union applauds marchers

by dette mc loughlin - Galway says NO to Health Cuts campaign Sat Sep 11, 2010 19:46 5dette at eircom dot net

The "Galway says No to Health Cuts" campaign supported the consultants' call to march from Merlin Park hospital to Eyre Square, Galway city today, Saturday 11th September to highlight the crisis in our public health service and the attacks on Merlin Park hospital in particular. Although only up to 600 walked the 3 miles today, it has to be noted that the weather was abysmal and there had not been alot of advertising for the demo itself by the consultants. But they have to be commended for taking action.

Councillor Catherine Connolly (Ind.) was the only politician to march the route with the protesters although a number of other councillors and 2 TDs put in an appearance either at the assembly point or at the end. The campaign committee collected signatures on their petition to the Irish government objecting to the cut-backs in public hospitals and healthcare services. Chairperson of Fine Gael, TD Paraic Mac Cormac, and TD Noel Grealish, former PD and current supporter of the FF/Green/Harney government, both added their signatures to the petition that concludes, "We refuse to accept that the welfare of bankers and bondholders should come before our health care, in Galway and elsewhere."

The Socialist Party and the Socialist Workers Party both had contingents on the march.

Almost everyone at the demonstration took away fliers to advertise and build for the "Galway Says NO to Health Cuts" protest to be held on Saturday 25th September, assemble 2pm Galway Cathedral to march the short distance to University Hospital Galway for a rally with speakers from the health-workers, patients, and community. We need this to be as big, broad and inclusive demonstration as possible. All trade unions, workers, patients, community groups and individuals need to come along- we are facing a local and national emergency.

by conor burke - the socialist party Sun Sep 12, 2010 20:20

yesterday saw between 5 and 6 hundred health workers, union members , community groups and members of the public take to the streets in protest over the proposed cuts to health services in Merlin park and across the west , this was the first step in what will hopefully be the start of a much broader campaign that can join together all the different health campaign groups across the west . it is only by joining together and forming a mass opposition to all the cuts to every aspect of health services that we can hope to defeat this government and its privatisation agenda, we hope to see everyone who understands the importance that the public health service plays in our society out on the streets on Saturday 25th at 2pm ,regardless of designer labels or not,(@ galwegian if you had actually attended you would have seen your statement to totally incorrect, not sure exactly what your point was in any case??)