Groups campaigning against the implications of the Hanly report for smaller hospitals will consider taking a constitutional challenge to the report's recommendations, it was confirmed yesterday.
The groups from across the State will come together to form a national alliance this evening, following a rally in Nenagh against the proposal in Hanly to replace the accident and emergency unit at Nenagh General Hospital with a minor injuries unit led by nurses and open only during the day.
The same fate has been mapped out for Ennis General Hospital and Loughlinstown Hospital in Dublin, while the fate of other smaller hospitals, such as Portiuncula in Ballinasloe, will not be known until next July when "Hanly II" is published.
A huge turnout is expected for today's protest rally, which begins at 2 p.m.
Among the attendance will be people from Mallow, Ennis and Ballinasloe, as well as other areas with smaller hospitals likely to be affected by Hanly recommendations.
All eyes will be on which Fianna Fáil politicians attend, given the controversial comments two weeks ago by the Minister for Defence, Mr Smith, that there was no need to "sacrifice" people living in outlying areas "on the altar of the Hanly report".
He later expressed regret to the Taoiseach, Mr Ahern, if his remarks were taken as "weakening the strategy".
Last evening a spokesman for the Minister said Mr Smith, a TD for North Tipperary, was not commenting on whether he would attend today's rally.
However, a spokeswoman for Ms Maire Hocter, also a Fianna Fáil TD for North Tipperary, confirmed she would be attending the protest.
Other Fianna Fáil TDs and senators in Tipperary indicated they would not be attending.
These included Mr Noel Davern and Senator Martin Mansergh, who said it was not their constituency; Senator John Hanafin, who said he was unable to attend; and Senator Labhrás Ó Murchú, who said he had a prior engagement.
Senator Hanafin said he was "very anxious to see full cover in Nenagh 24 hours with a doctor on call" but said he was "prepared to work within Hanly to get that".
Opposition parties will be out in force. Labour leader Mr Pat Rabbitte is due to attend.
But the chairman of the Nenagh Hospital Action Group, Mr Paul Malone, said politicians would not be allowed address the crowd.
He said the action group wanted to ensure local people had access to acute hospital services.
If some services were transferred to Limerick, they would be inaccessible to large numbers of people without access to public transport, he said.
Mr Malone, a solicitor in Borrisokane, said Article 45 of the Constitution stressed all should be treated equally and Hanly would ensure this did not happen.
"We are forming a national steering group and it will be looking at all our options including a constitutional challenge to the report," he confirmed.
