Halligan will not get cardiac services he wants, says Kenny

Taoiseach Enda Kenny has indicated Independent Alliance Minister John Halligan will not secure the cardiac services he is seeking for his constituency, but a number of other offers have been made to him.

The Independent Alliance is to hold an emergency meeting with Fine Gael on Wednesday evening on the issue of hospital services in Waterford, with Mr Halligan threatening to resign.

Asked if he would give Mr Halligan what he wanted in relation to improved cardiac care in Waterford, the Taoiseach replied he would not interfere with the view of independent clinical experts, who found there was no case for a second catherisation laboratory.

A catherisation laboratory is used to test for blockages in coronary arteries.

“What happened here was that an independent clinician of world class stature was invited to look at this particular question and has given his report.

“There was a detailed meeting with the Minister for Health and the Minister for Finance and Minister Halligan and obviously it is not politically possible to change a clinician’s direction and recommendation in this regard,” the Taoiseach said on Wednesday.

“But the Minister for Health did offer a series of outcomes and proposals that would certainly help the situation very much in Waterford. I’m not sure of the outcome of any further discussions.”

The Taoiseach declined to give any details, saying they were for the Minister for Health, but said that “Minister Halligan knows those now and he can outline what the minister was able to offer in the absence of a positive recommendation for a second cat lab by the consultant.”

Minister for Health Simon Harris, Minister for Finance Michael Noonan and Minister for Housing Simon Coveney are meeting their Independent colleagues this evening.

Fine Gael sources said they “cannot ignore” the findings of the clinical review but said it allows for some increased resources at the hospital.

There is increasing frustration in Government circles with Mr Halligan, with one source saying it is time the Waterford deputy’s position in the Fine Gael-Independent coalition “crystallised”.

“We cannot go on having these crisis meetings all the time,” said a Government figure, with speculation that Mattie McGrath or Noel Grealish could join the Coalition should Mr Halligan leave.

The Irish Times reported earlier on Wednesday that an inquiry granted to Junior Minister John Halligan as his price for supporting the Government has questioned the existing level of services at his local hospital instead of recommending increased services, as he expected.

Mr Halligan has cancelled all ministerial appointments today to deal with the issue, with sources saying he is ready to leave Government if a second catherisation laboratory is not given to University Hospital, Waterford.

When asked on Wednesday what would happen if he does not get a second catherisation laboratory, Mr Halligan said he would have “no choice” but to resign.

The main request from Mr Halligan for entering government was for a second catherisation laboratory at the hospital, but Fine Gael could only commit to an “independent clinical review” which would examine the needs of the population and the workload of the current laboratory.

The hospital review recommends against the expansion of cardiac care services, which was previously described by the Waterford Independent TD as a “formality”.

The Irish Times understands that the report raises the prospect of transferring an existing high-tech cardiac facility from Waterford to Cork.

Sources, however, said that Mr Harris will not close services on foot of the report.