Doolan - government must come clean on privatisation plans
Published: 13 May, 2007
Sinn Féin's Dublin South East Election Candidate, Cllr. Daithí Doolan has
today demanded that the government, and in particular Minister Mary Harney,
come clean on allegations that all ambulance services are to be privatised.
Speaking this morning, Cllr. Doolan said
"I am shocked to hear that the government have already made plans to
privatise all ambulance services. The EU have yet to rule on whether the
emergency services here in Dublin are to be privatised, yet it is now coming
to light that the government are rolling out a planned privatisation of
services regardless of the outcome in the EU."
Cllr. Doolan continued
"This was first brought to my attention by SIPTU who were deeply concerned
at the case brought by Patricia McKenna to the EU, who challenged Dublin
Fire Brigade in providing the emergency ambulance service on behalf of the
Health Service Executive. This case has lead to the possibility of
privatising the emergency ambulance service. Sinn Féin firmly believe this
service to be an essential service to the public and should therefore remain
in public ownership. Any attempt to privatise this service will be
challenged by Sinn Féin both here in Dublin and in Brussels."
Concluding Cllr. Doolan demanded
"The Minister for Health, Mary Harney, must make a public statement on the
matter, if she fails to it will further undermine the public's confidence in
her ability to run the healthcare system."
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