Up to 15,000 people have marched in Ennis, Co Clare in protest at the implications of the Hanly Report for the hospital in the town. The Hanly Report recommends a downgrading of the A&E service at Ennis General, with services transferred to Limerick's Mid-Western Regional Hospital.
Up to 15,000 people have marched in Ennis, Co Clare in protest at the implications of the Hanly Report for the hospital in the town.
The Hanly Report recommends a downgrading of the A&E service at Ennis General, with services transferred to Limerick's Mid-Western Regional Hospital.
Instead, Ennis General would be reclassified a local hospital and "provide minor and illness injury units".
Today's march was also attended by a group from Nenagh in Co Tipperary who are protesting over similar implications for Nenagh General Hospital.
Last night the Minister for Defence, Mr Smith, attempted to bring an end to a controversy surrounding an attack he made on the Hanly Report earlier this wee.
He released a letter sent to the Taoiseach, Mr Ahern, and issued a statement saying he was "fully committed to the policy and decisions of the Government".
Earlier this week, the Tipperary TD had expressed grave reservations about the impact the Hanly Report would have on services at Nenagh General Hospital.
In his letter to the Mr Ahern, Mr Smith said: "I regret sincerely the effects of my intervention concerning the Nenagh hospital ... I had not intention of breaching collective Cabinet responsibility.
I had no intention whatever of disagreeing with you publicly on the issue and I regret that that interpretation has been put on it by some people."
Mr Ahern has not yet commented on Mr Smith's statement.