Campaigners in spotlight as media descends on Dublin

More than 500 Save Navan Hospital protesters from across Meath took to the streets outside Leinster House in Dublin last Thursday in their continuing campaign to return services to the hospital. On a day that the world's media were focused on Leinster House, 10 buses transported protesters from Navan, Kells, Trim, Dunderry and Tara Mines for what was a noisy and colourful display in support of the hospital. A large number of Meath residents who work in the city centre area took time off their lunch breaks to join the rally, which was addressed by a number of speakers, including Joan McGuinness, a former patient of the hospital; Navan Mayor Cllr Phil Brennan; campaign secretary Noeleen O'Donoghue and campaign chairperson, Cllr Peadar Tóibín. Television cameras and reporters from around the world had gathered in Kildare Street as the Dail became a centre of turmoil and confusion due to the resignation of six government ministers and the Taoiseach's failed attempt to reshuffle his cabinet. The bemused media entourage looked on as the colourful protestors arrived at Leinster House. Workers from Tara Mines were dressed in full mining gear and hospital supporters were treated to a recreation of the popular drama 'The Riordans' by the Dunderry Fair group, who also provided traditional music and who had brought donkeys and sheep along for the day. Cllr Tóibín told the crowd the campaign was here to stay and they would ensure that the Navan hospital would remain top of the incoming government's agenda. He said they were calling on all election candidates to sign a declaration of support. “We will then wait until the election is over. We will meet with the incoming government and we will ensure that Navan Hospital is firmly at the top of their agenda and we will be down of them like a tonne of bricks if services are not returned and if there is any degrading of health services in county,†he declared. “The Save Navan Hospital Campaign is here to stay.†He Welcomed the resignation of Health Minister, Mary Harney. “When Mary Harney took ministerial office years ago, she asked us to choose between Boston or Berlin as the best future model for our health service. But what Mary Harney has left many of us is Baghdad. She has left us with a broken health service, which lies in tatters. It functions only because of the collective vocations of an army of healthcare professionals who struggle heroically on a daily basis. “Over the last few weeks, we have witnessed a government consumed with confusion and internal navel-gazing while all around, in the real world, the country is creaking and grinding to a halt. While irrelevant leadership heaves are taking place, 46,000 people are deteriorating on waiting lists. Those who have made it into a hospital are faced with a sea of trolleys. “Last week, 50 people waited on trolleys in Drogheda and 20 people waited on trolleys in Navan. “The ship of state has crashed onto the rocks and Fianna Fáil ministers are still fighting over who is steering the ship,†he said.