I received a letter in today’s post asking me to support the Donegal Action for Cancer Care Campaign in writing, ahead of there meeting next week with An Tanaiste, Mary Harney TD, Minister For Health, in Dublin.
As a politicican, there are many times when you must take hard decisions. This is certainly not one of those times. I fully support the campaign for the retention and extension of Cancer Care services in Donegal, as do my party colleagues.
This is a very important, very active campaign which rises above the sphere of party politics. An issue of this magnitude affects every family in this county, and deserves to be treated as such.
Highland Radio reports that moves are afoot to treat Donegal cancer patients in Belfast, rather than in Galway as proposed. This may be an improvement, but still amounts to (from Letterkenny) a 2 hour journey instead of a 3-and-a-half hour journey, and worse from other parts of the county. An improvement, but still not good enough for the needs of this County.
I’ve attended a number of Fianna Fail meetings recently, and this issue was (by some distance) the single most important issue discussed. Fianna Fail members, Councillors and TDs continue to work on this issue with the Government and with the Health Authorities. This issue is being kept on the agenda of the Minister for Health, Minister for Finance and the Taoiseach by the local Fianna Fail organisation.