FIANNA FÁIL backbenchers are intensifying their pressure on Health Minister Micheál Martin to give local politicians a place on the new health agencies and bodies to be launched tomorrow.

POLITICIANS won’t be dropped from the four regional executive bodies set to replace health boards, Health Minister Micheál Martin confirmed yesterday.

HEALTH Minister Micheál Martin is considering abolishing half the country’s health boards to improve efficiency and reduce the 70% of his department’s budget that now goes on staff salaries.

HEALTH Minister Micheál Martin is keeping his promise to set up a specific agency to run the country’s hospitals next year in a revamp of the health service.