MINISTER for Education Batt O’Keeffe said he did not believe the credibility of Taoiseach Brian Cowen was being eroded following the actions of two Fianna Fáil TDs Jimmy Devins and Eamon Scanlon.
He said the Government must remain focused during the economic crisis and remain “serious about what we’re about”, rather than be distracted.
The two Sligo-North Leitrim TDs resigned the party whip last week in protest at the decision to move cancer services from Sligo General Hospital to Galway University Hospital.
Mr Cowen’s leadership came under further pressure over the weekend when backbench Fianna Fáil TD John McGuinness said questions about Mr Cowen’s leadership had been raised by the loss of 84 council seats, the loss of two byelections in June and the recent resignations.
Mr O’Keeffe said the resignations by Mr Devins and Mr Scanlon were disappointing. “I think two individuals, who are two very good friends of mine, I’m disappointed that they took the decision that they did.
“Look, we as a country are facing a crisis – a financial crisis and we’re also interested in the care of patients and patients who contract cancer,” he said.
The Government had to “be serious about what we’re about” and Minister for Health Mary Harney was correct in pursuing a centres-of-excellence model for the national cancer strategy, he said.
“I’m sorry that the lads felt that in terms of local issues they had to act in this way.
“I think if I were that patient I would want to go to a facility that was a state-of-the art facility, with the highest professional qualifications and the best possible equipment available to me.
“The first thing any patients thinks of is where am I going to get the ultimate treatment and Tom Keane has indicated quite clearly that the ultimate treatment can be delivered in centres of excellence and we should never forget that fact.”
He said Sligo General Hospital would continue to provide an important function in cancer care “as an outcentre”.
