Protests are to be staged at four Dublin hospitals next week against Government plans to allow private developers to build on public land, it was announced today.
The demonstrations are a response to Tanaiste and Minister for Health Mary Harney's proposals to allow private for-profit hospitals be sited next to public hospitals.
The controversial scheme, designed to free up more public beds for public patients, has been criticised as a Government investment in inequality.
The protests are to be held at St James Hospital, Beaumont Hospital, James Connolly Hospital and Tallaght Hospital on Wednesday.
Sinn Fein MEP Mary Lou McDonald branded Ms Harney's initiative a ludicrous idea.
"Under her scheme inequality in access to healthcare will increase, the public healthcare system will be undermined and its income reduced and the pockets of dozens of companies will be lined to the tune of hundreds of millions at the expense of the Irish tax-payer," she said.
"There has been no debate in the Oireachtas about this scheme, no consultation with the health sector or with the Irish public for that matter and there has been no published rationale for this scheme."
Ms McDonald said the alternative was a healthcare service fully-funded by the public purse delivering best value for money.
"There should be a rejuvenation of the primary care strategy which was effectively abandoned by this government," she said.
"And there must be investment to provide the healthcare system the Irish people deserve, not a monument to inequality and government indifference."