Ahern, Martin avoid rebuking Smith

THE Taoiseach and Health Minister Micheál Martin would not say yesterday that their Cabinet colleague, Defence Minister Michael Smith, must be sacked for breaking ranks on the controversial Hanly report.

Mr Smith has twice publicly attacked the radical health proposals to downgrade Accident and Emergency services. The Defence Minister said a lot of rural people would be sacrificed at the altar of the Hanly report.

And a defiant Mr Smith insisted yesterday he has nothing to fear from a Cabinet reshuffle and confirmed he will be a candidate in the next election.