Shortall confirms Reilly's mismanagement and Fine Gael monopoly of Health policy - Ó Caoláin

Commenting on the revelations by former Minister of State Róisín Shortall about James Reilly's stewardship as Health Minister and about the direction of health policy, Sinn Féin Health spokesperson Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin TD said:

"Róisín Shortall's revelations confirm James Reilly's mismanagement of our public health services. His 'stroke politics' over primary care centres, his failure to act decisively on consultants' pay, his lax approach to reducing the excessive costs of medicines, all show a wrong-headed Minister unfit to manage our public health services.

"The former Minister of State also confirms the total dominance in this Coalition of Fine Gael US-style health privatisation policy, something her former colleagues in the Labour Party appear to support. This is clear from the fact that James Reilly plans to develop primary care centres by public-private partnership only, despite the report from the Comptroller and Auditor General this week showing the massive waste of money on PPPs, including in the health area.

"James Reilly should be dismissed as Health Minister and his policies should go with him." ENDS