The joint managers of Shamrocks GAA club in Offally, Brian Kinnarney and John Monaghan, have resigned in protest at not being consulted about an appeal following their weekend defeat
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30 Sept 2025
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30 Sept 2025
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Deputy Alan Kelly
The long-awaited HIQA report the Government have requested on the review of the design and delivery of urgent and emergency healthcare services to the mid West has been released.
Speaking following the publication of the HIQA report today, Labour TD for Tipperary North Alan Kelly said:
"The decision by then Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly to ask HIQA to review hospital services in the Mid West was a political decision to get his then Government through the impending General Election.
"HIQA who do fine work in many areas, are not the competent authority for such work and should never have been asked to undertake it. Why it was delayed and took 16 months to report ‘options’ is beyond me.
"I’ve been fighting against the downgrading and subsequent lack of services in the Mid West literally my whole political career. Today’s report is another insult to the people of the Mid West as it drags out decision making yet again and more years are lost.
"It’s as obvious as the nose on your face that the Mid West needs a new model 3 hospital with full emergency and ICU facilities whether in Nenagh, Ennis or Limerick. The principle of the decision has to be taken. Today it was only an option. It is not an option - it is a necessity. Do a comparison with the hospital services in the South East to see the lack of capacity in the Mid West.
READ NEXT: Lowry reacts to HIQA review on emergency healthcare services in HSE Mid-West Region
"I’m sick and tired of how the Mid West is being treated. I know all about it given my own family’s use of these facilities over the years. There was 147 people on trolleys yesterday. That is a disgrace and an indictment of how the successive governments have failed this region.
"We need a new hospital full stop. We need a site identified and planning put in. It can be built in stages in order or help with capacity in the short term. However the idea that somehow this isn’t a guaranteed recommendation is beyond my capacity as a public representative who’s been close to this issue all my political career to understand," Deputy Kelly said.
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