Trotter wrote: » I think we showed today that we're a dignified people who if we were walking slowly around the entrances to Dublin city in order to give senior politicians something Waterford based to think about, we'd stand aside for an ambulance... Dont you think?
Sully wrote: » However, it was disappointing to see people try to hijack the event for their own agenda. A number of Socialist Party members were handing out leaflets advising people to say no to the Household Charge. I have no objection to them raising their own issues with the government but it would have been nicer if they kept to themselves and didn't hijack a much more important issue.
LETS BE AVN IT wrote: » What and stop emergency services getting to people ?
LETS BE AVN IT wrote: » I'd imagine so , how would you go about such a protest?
Trotter wrote: » It seems to be local Fine Gael policy to back the WRH element of the protest but to stand by and watch the council being abolished while Cork City and Galway city retain theirs. Thats for another thread but FG members should know that there were a whole lot of people there because they are sick and tired of the city being handed the scraps, with this WRH plan being one of them. Its not true to say everyone there was there for the hospital alone. While I was there, hundreds of people had and were handing in shirts to the Waterford gives a shirt campaign.
Trotter wrote: » I fully agree too that handing out political leaflets (and someone handing out anti flouride leaflets) was bad bad form on a day like today.
Trotter wrote: » I reckon the turnout should have given a wake-up call to all the politicians up the line. I'd be curious to know if Enda Kenny and James Reilly will be made aware of the depth of feeling, and also if they'll be made aware that although the WRH issue seems to have been the straw that's broken the camel's back, there were many straws being marched about today.
7upfree wrote: » Are you for the birds? Of course not. They would be allowed through. FFS.
LETS BE AVN IT wrote: » You were stating bring everywhere to a halt ! Within reason ? Should we be interrupting people trying to get to work?
Premier wrote: » For such a hot topic, there not much feedback on the kilkenny forum or wexford forum regarding this serious matter,
fuzzy dunlop wrote: » Probably because on the Kilkenny Forum you have a couple of individuals more interested in preventing it being discussed which in itself is interesting.Including one poor devil who thinks he can see infections and that's how he knows WRH is riddled with bugs. As much as I Sullys moderation annoys me at least its not based on county loyalty.
albert kidd wrote: » you can march until the cows come home down here and it'll have little or no effect in my opinion..as a post a few back up said you need to bring it to dublin..block roads ect ect.
Trotter wrote: » Its Paudie's decision what policies he wants to support and oppose. I've huge respect for him. I havent heard any other party politician stand up in the manner he has these last 2 weeks or so. He isnt meek or arrogant anyway, thats a plus. However in my own opinion, the city/county merger isn't a good idea unless it happens in Cork and Galway too. If we are not treated equally, then we are not equal. A politicians job and function is to represent the views of people who elect them, not to represent the views of the party they joined. Paudie has my full support in his efforts relating to the hospital, but I'm personally disgusted at the party led reaction to the city county merger from the government party politicians both at council and Dáil level. Sorry for dragging off topic on that one.. just had to clarify that I wasn't on an anti Coffey rant. Ive a lot of time for him.
CuriousG wrote: » 1. Protests are more than usually planned, so people would have to deal with it and make amends. 2. Obviously emergency services are not counted as general trafftic. 3. If everyone was worried about disrupting someones day, nothing would ever get done in this country, or anywhere in the world. People are too familiar with cosy lifestyle, a little disruption is a small price to pay for doing the right thing by society.
nice_very wrote: » It was mentioned today on the bandstand, several times on the page of the event, and here on this thread that the event was to be non political, so when people say things like: save our hospital, they want to downgrade WRH, who exactly are they saying it to and who are they talking about? It is a political issue and goes hand in hand with all the other campaigns around, many of who attended today, leaflets were given out but in a very discreet manner. How long are they willing to go without turning this into a political issue? Before anyone starts accusing me of anything... I was at the protest, in fact I was at the very front of the march, I support the cause 100 percent.
fricatus wrote: » The issue is of course political, but I think that what they mean by "non-political" is that the organisation of the protest is not aligned to any political organisation or lobby group. I think they succeeded in that. I wouldn't be happy marching behind a Sinn Féin or trade union banner, but if those people want to march together with other people with a common interest, that's fine. So proud of Waterford people for the huge turnout today by the way. Shows we can stand up and be counted. This is one issue where they are going to have to sit up and take notice. There were 12,000 people at the march, according to conservative estimates. That would be a lot of first preferences! If this downgrading goes ahead, expect a hospital candidate!
Sully wrote: » Aye that's correct and a number of people called for local politicians to speak at the event - something I objected to and got knocked back for the suggestion! I think for some, it was purely just to help their favourite local cllr get a bit of a boost and take advantage of the situation imo. So the organisers were correct in not agreeing to this and keeping it politically neutral. The politicians got their say today. Cullinane is reported on TheJournal and Paudie Coffey and John Paul Phelan did their interview on RTE News re-iterating their support and commitment to save WRH.
Sully wrote: » The politicians got their say today. Cullinane is reported on TheJournal and Paudie Coffey and John Paul Phelan did their interview on RTE News re-iterating their support and commitment to save WRH.
mozattack wrote: » Waste of time today, not sure why people bother really. I suppose it is like those who go to Mass because they think there is a heaven. RTE interview a consultant who will definately give an unbiased opinion while she earns €130k - €150k per annum PLUS whatever she earns in her private practice operating out of the same office. It is the likes of that that increase the costs ultimately shutting down the place. For that nonsense, apply it to schools, colleges, garda stations.... and so on.
Deisetrek wrote: » I think you see Coffey through your rose tinted Fine Gael glasses Sully , he was non committal on his position if the proposal went ahead " he would have to consider his position " blah blah . Let him get up in the Dail and shout it to the heavens . The people of Waterford gave our TD's a clear message today .....there's no votes in this town for ye unless ye represent the feelings of 15000 of your constituents who will take no more of ye're ****e and as an earlier poster called it " posturing" . That's the only way these shower will act ,if they feel they will be hit at the ballot box. All this talk too of seeing people handing out leaflets relating to other issues is Coffeyspeak and a cynical attempt to portray the event as having been hijacked . Bull**** ....I saw one girl handing out something ( refused to take it myself) 99.99% of people there today were there for the Hospital and those 2 girls who started this should be proud of themselves tonight.
