Martin pressed to explain meeting

ENTERPRISE Minister Micheál Martin will come under intense pressure when he returns from Australia to explain what was discussed when he privately met with the secretary general of the Department of Health last December.

Mr Martin met Michael Kelly several days before the senior civil servant gave an “inaccurate” briefing on the legal consequences of nursing home charges to Tánaiste Mary Harney on December 14.

The spokesperson for the Enterprise Minister yesterday confirmed that the charges issue was discussed by both men at the half-hour meeting, held at Mr Kelly’s request.