A round-up of today's other home news in brief ...
New outpatient department for Kilkenny hospital
A new outpatient department has been opened to facilitate up to 100 clinics a week at St Luke's hospital in Kilkenny,
writes Dara De Faoite.
Minister for Health Mary Harney opened the €7.1 million facility yesterday at the hospital which is closed to visitors due to an outbreak of the winter vomiting virus.
The new unit will facilitate 1,000 patients a week in all clinics including surgical, medical, antenatal, oncology, paediatrics and gynaecology.
“This is a major development in terms of provision of services and accessibility to services for patients in the Carlow/Kilkenny area,” said Ann Slattery, general manager at St Luke’s.
In addition to the new outpatient department Ms Harney also officially opened the new interim laboratory and CT scanner at the St Luke’s.
Tourist providers ‘facing tough year’
Tourist providers are facing their most challenging year yet and Irish workers should be encouraged to holiday at home this year, a Fine Gael councillor in Kerry has claimed, writes Anne Lucey. Johnny O'Connor also said hard-pressed employers should be given tax incentives for taking on new employees.
Hopes for the return of the Cork-Swansea ferry will be a boost for the southwest. However, the strength of the euro against sterling is a worry and may discourage UK tourists, according to tourist providers in Killarney.
Harney criticised over meeting delay
Minister for Health Mary Harney has been criticised for rescheduling a meeting planned for today with a delegation from Clare County Council to discuss plans to remove 24-hour AE services from Ennis General Hospital, writes Pat Flynn.
A protest had also been arranged to coincide with the meeting in Dublin and thousands of people from Clare were expected to travel to the Dáil this afternoon to protest at the controversial decision. Mayor of Clare Madeleine Taylor Quinn (FG) said she received a phone call from the Minister’s private secretary to say that Ms Harney would not be in a position to meet the councillors because of a change in the order of business in the Dáil this evening.
It was decided that the meeting would be rescheduled for next Tuesday, February 17th.
But Ms Taylor Quinn said: “It is unacceptable that the Minister can cancel a meeting . . . knowing that so many had arranged to make themselves available to travel to Dublin.”