Taoiseach expresses confidence in Minister for Health Dr James Reilly

Minister for Health

James Reilly has received the backing of the Taoiseach amid speculation that he will be moved from the Department of Health in a forthcoming Cabinet reshuffle.

Enda Kenny told the Dáil he supported the Minister "in respect of confidence in being able to sort this out''.

He was replying to Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin, who asked if he still had confidence in the Minister's capacity to manage the health services. Mr Martin suggested the Taoiseach might be clearer in expressing confidence in Dr Reilly.

The Taoiseach refused to be drawn on a revelation in The Irish Times that the head of the Department of Health had withdrawn a letter he sent to the head of the Health Service Executive (HSE) following a row over pay for entry-grade consultants.

Mr Martin, who raised the matter, said the department’s secretary general was “no doubt doing the bidding of the Minister for Health’’.

Mr Kenny said that in areas as significant as the Department of Health and the HSE there were always going to be opportunities where differences of opinion arose.

“Clearly I have no idea how letters between the secretary general of the Department of Health and the chief executive of the HSE find their way into the public domain,’’ he added.

Mr Martin also referred to an article in yesterday's Irish Times by Donal O'Shea, consultant endocrinologist, describing the halting of obesity surgery at St Vincent's hospital, Dublin, as an "act of stupidity''.

The decision, said Mr Martin, would cost lives.

Surgery necessary

Mr Kenny said he had read the article, adding that he understood that surgery was necessary in a number of cases.

“My understanding is that there was an allocation made for 20 such operations this year, and that has been gone through.’’

Earlier, Dr Reilly told the House that the HSE had recorded a deficit of €158 million by the end of May. He described the HSE as “an absolutely devalued brand’’ which the Government was committed to replacing.

He said 2014 was proving to be a particularly challenging year for the HSE, but it was still managing to provide services despite growing demand and serious challenges.

He pointed out that over €3.3 billion had been cut from the health budget since 2008, and staffing had been reduced by 14,000.

Dr Reilly said spending by the HSE was €114 million lower at the end of March compared to a year earlier.

However, he said due to the extent and phasing of spending reductions, the deficit back then was €80 million, compared to €27 million in March 2013.

Grasping around

Fianna Fáil health spokesman

Billy Kelleher

said that the Government was “grasping around, trying to pretend you have the money to run the health services for the year ahead’’.

This was happening year-in, year-out, he added.

The Minister said Mr Kelleher’s party leader Mr Martin had created the HSE when he was minister for health.

He said that instead of reforming the health service when in government Fianna Fáil had continued to “throw money at it’’.