MINISTER Joe McHugh has been ‘empty chaired’ after failing to turn up at a meeting to discuss the future of Lifford hospital.
Representatives from across the political spectrum, including councillors, TDs and senators, attended the meeting in Lifford’s Social Centre.
But Mr McHugh was a notable absentee and the Friends of Lifford Hospital campaign group pulled in no punches in addressing his non-attendance.
They thanked all political representatives, including Pat The Cope Gallagher, Pearse Doherty and Pádraig Mac Lochlainn for attending but when it came to Minister McHugh, they displayed an empty chair on a big screen.
‘Empty chairing’ is a mechanism now commonly used by broadcasters to pose questions to politicians when they fail to turn up for interview. It was employed by Sky News, Channel 4 and BBC 1 during the recent Westminster elections in Britain when their attempts to speak with Conservative Party members were unsuccessful.
A slideshow put together by Friends of Lifford Hospital campaigner Gerard Burns revealed that the last time they held a meeting and invited politicians, Joe McHugh was also unavailable. A series of photos showed how on that occasion, September 20, the Minister for Education was taking part in a different event on the new FIFA-approved surface at Letterkenny Community Centre.
“Joe was doing the crossbar challenge,” Gerard Burns told the audience.
“You can go on his Facebook page and see how he attempts to hit the crossbar. While we were in the hospital discussing the care of our people, our minister was in Letterkenny trying the crossbar challenge. The question we would ask to you all here this evening is this: if you were the minister, would you put your backside in the seat and meet with us or would you be out playing football?
“He didn’t even inform us that he could not attend and that is unacceptable. He could have said he would not be available until 9pm, 10pm, 11pm or even midnight and we would have waited. But he didn’t.”
Joe McHugh with Taoiseach Leo Varadkar. The Minister for Education was heavily criticised for his non-attendance at the meeting regarding Lifford hospital. A spokesperson for the minister said he had prior engagements to attend but that he stood 100 per-cent committed to keeping the hospital open.
It was also highlighted as part of the slideshow how Minister McHugh has welcomed development plans for other community hospitals across Donegal in recent times. But according to campaigners “not one time did he mention Lifford hospital”.
“He mentioned them all but he has left us out,” Mr Burns said.
“Our minister should be ashamed of himself. I wish he was here because I would offer him the opportunity to explain why we are not being afforded the same care as other areas in this county. We have an election coming up and I suggest the next time Joe is at your door you ask him why.”
A spokesperson for Minister McHugh’s office said the minister had two prior engagements in local schools on Thursday night and as Education Minister he was duty-bound to attend them.
They added: “Minister McHugh remains 100 per-cent committed to Lifford hospital in the same way he is for Ramelton and Stranorlar and he is fully committed to ensuring the right decisions are made in the best interests of patients, their families and communities.”
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