Fine Gael condemns ‘pre-election lies’ over health service cutbacks

FINE Gael yesterday accused the Government of “pre-election lies” following the introduction of a recruitment freeze on frontline health services.

A private members’ motion will be tabled in the Dáil today proposing that any budgetary adjustments required in the health services should be focused at administration and bureaucracy and not at the frontline.

The party’s health spokesman, Dr James O’Reilly said Health Minister Mary Harney and Taoiseach Bertie Ahern had been vehement in their denials that there would be cutbacks to health services prior to the election in May.