21/10/2013

Minister Reilly Rejects Call For His Resignation

Minister for Health James Reilly has rejected calls for his resignation.

It follows the news that plans to cut €666m from the health budget in 2014, will be overseen by the departments of An Taoiseach and Public Expenditure & Reform.

Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin called for Minister Reilly's resignation, saying that the cuts to the health budget would cause "untold misery".

However, stating that he has no intention of quitting, Mr Reilly hit back at the FF leader, saying that given his own track record in the Department of Health, it was "a bit rich" of him to call for his resignation.

Adding that Mr Martin had more money than at any time in the history of the State and he had made a complete mess of health.

Mr Reilly said that he is more in control of the health budget than ever before and reiterated that he had asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform to assess the health budget figures.

(MH/JP)

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