Commenting on the recording of Enda Kenny making a clear commitment to retain the Emergency Department at Roscommon County Hospital, Tallaght Hospital activist Seán Crowe TD said:

“The Taoiseach Enda Kenny needs to honour his pre election pledge to the people and prevent the closure of the Emergency Department at Roscommon County Hospital.

“Enda Kenny’s denial that he made any such commitment has now been exposed as false or will we hear of another serious lapse of memory.

“James Reilly the Health Minister gave a commitment in writing at that time and the two local Fine Gael TDs also gave similar assurances to the electorate. No doubt there will be political fallout in relation to these broken promises. The priority now has to be that the healthcare needs of the people promised to and served by this hospital are reversed and their Accident and Emergency service kept open.

“The axing of Roscommon and the withdrrawal of vital resources and supports in other Accident & Emergency is motivated primarily by budgetary considerations and has nothing to with patient safety.

“Like the rest of the Fine Gael/Labour/IMF/ECB imposed health cuts, they need to be addressed urgently and reversed.”