Ministers shrug off reports of cabinet rift

HEALTH Minister Micheál Martin and Finance Minister Charlie McCreevy played down reports of a bitter cabinet rift between them over their conflicting views on health service spending.

Minister Martin said he was not afraid of being politically damaged by his colleague’s criticisms of his management of the health service.

While defending the health expenditure, Mr Martin had strongly criticised the finance minister for losing sight of the bigger picture, and claimed the rift was undermining the Government’s achievements.