Labour grassroots to meet on Reilly

Grassroots Labour Party members are to hold an emergency meeting next week to discuss how to bring about the resignation of Minister…

Grassroots Labour Party members are to hold an emergency meeting next week to discuss how to bring about the resignation of Minister for Heath James Reilly.

Róisín Shortall stepped down as minister of state at the Fine Gael Minister's department last month in a dispute over provision of healthcare centres.

The Campaign for Labour Policies will also hold an online petition calling on party leader Eamon Gilmore to take action to ensure the resignation of Dr Reilly.

"James Reilly has not accounted properly for his decision to interfere with the priority list for primary health care centres," said campaign spokesman Neil Warner. "If he will not go, he must be forced out by the Labour Party."

The campaign, the grassroots organisation of Labour Party members, will meet in the Teachers Club, Dublin, on Wednesday to discuss the progress of the reform of the healthcare system.

Among the items which will be discussed are the decision of Ms Shortall to resign her position; what action must be taken to ensure the full implementation of the primary healthcare and alcohol misuse strategies, and members' privatisation concerns.