FG disgracefully call on doctors to end strike

Wednesday April 23, 2003 13:55

by Khalid Farouk

FG have disgracfully called on striking doctors to end their strike.

Fine Gael today have called on striking doctors to end their strike using the SARS scare as an excuse. Do FG not know why exactly these doctors are going on strike? They are on strike agains tthis governments cuts in healthcare. These doctors should be fully supported in their struggle. FG should not be using the governments own mismanagment of SARS to beat the strikers. The responsibility for this strike lies 100% with the government, it is the government that are implementing savage cuts.

This statement also shows the complete bankruptcy of the Fg party. They are in no way different to FF/PD, all the bourgeois parties are incapable of any real genuine opposition to this government, if in government they would be implementing the exact same neo liberal programme of cuts. The same can be said of the openly bourgeois 'Labour' Party who are prepared to do careerist deals with any party.

Support the striking doctors!
No to use of SARS as excuse against striking doctors!
FOr a workers' party that will stand up for ordinary peole against FF/PD/FG/LAB cuts politics!

BELOW is a report taken from Ireland.com
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Further pressure mounted on public health doctors today as they were called to suspend their strike action by Fine Gael.

Public health doctors are charged with monitoring and containing infectious diseases such as Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) and yesterday and this morning were called upon by the Minister for Health, Mr Micheál Martin to end their strike, now in its second week.

The World Health Organisation also said yesterday it would be "very concerned" if the public health doctors' strike "dragged on".

Today, the Fine Gael health spokesperson, Ms Olivia Mitchell, called on public health doctors to suspend their strike action because of their critical role in fighting the disease.

"I do not dispute that the public health doctors have legitimate issues which

must be addressed, but this is not the time for them to be on the streets.

Micheál Martin and the health system are floundering in the absence of the unique expertise provided by the doctors in the area of infectious disease control, and the public is losing confidence in the system," she said.

Ms Mitchell asked the public health doctors to suspend their action, at least in respect of SARS.

"The doctors' out of office claims have real substance. But their importance in protecting public health has been proved and it is clear that the Minister urgently needs their experience and guidance to prevent, monitor and control SARS.

She added that Ireland is the weakest link in the European defence system and that increases everyone's exposure.

"The Minister, for his part, must change his tune, admit there are issues to be addressed and commit to meaningful talks," she concluded.