About 100 supporters of St Luke's Hospital in Dublin protested outside Leinster House yesterday, calling on people not to vote for any political party which does not oppose its closure.
The protesters had travelled from Donegal, Wexford, Waterford, Cavan, Monaghan and the west to oppose the transfer of oncology services from the Rathgar site to St James's Hospital.
Rory Hearne of the People Before Profit Alliance said it was unclear what plans were being made for the 18.5 acre Rathgar site following the planned closure He said it did not make sense to close a cancer treatment centre when there were radiotherapy waiting lists.
Mr Hearne said the campaign against the closure had 60,000 signatures. "This is an election issue and we will be calling on supporters not to vote for any party that cannot give a commitment to oppose the closure of St Luke's. So that includes Fianna Fáil, the PDs and Fine Gael."
Among the protesters were the Labour Party's Ruairí Quinn, TD; the Green Party's John Gormley, TD; and Dublin city councillor Daithí Doolan of Sinn Féin.
Minister for Health Mary Harney has said her decision to transfer services from St Luke's was "based on expert advice and is designed to ensure that radiation oncology is integrated with all other aspects of care, including surgery and medical oncology." She wrote recently: "I fully acknowledge the significant investment made by the Friends of St Luke's in facilities at the Rathgar site."
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