Speaking at the launch of his party's candidates in Galway East last week, Sinn Fein President Gerry Adams called for the retention and expansion of services at Ballinasloe's Portiuncula Hospital.

Sinn Fein President Gerry Adams and North West EU Candidate Cllr Padraig Mac Lochlainn pictured at Mr Mac Lochlainn's campaign launch in Ballinasloe.

Mr Adams said the government's drive, under Mary Harney's watch, to privatise and centralise hospital services is having a devastating effect on the delivery of essential local services and lives are being put at risk.

One example of this, he said, was the closure of the residential drug and alcohol addiction unit, which the HSE closed several years ago "with disastrous human consequences".

Mr Adams said services could be delivered locally, and that Portiuncula Hospital was now little more than a clinic. He also called for the reinstatement of five nurses who were suspended from the hospital.

"The public has an opportunity in the June European and local government elections to vote against the wasteful and destructive policies of this government and to vote for a real change in Irish politics," he said.

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