TDs uneasy on HSE

TWO-thirds of Fianna Fáil’s backbenchers are unhappy with the workings of the Health Service Executive, according to a new survey.

Echoing the strong criticisms of Community Minister Eamon Ó Cuiv, who earlier this week said he could not “make head nor tail of the HSE as an organisation”, 23 backbenchers yesterday agreed that they too were discontented with the health service.

In a departure from the party line, maverick TDs Ned O’Keeffe and Mary O’Rourke said they were also disappointed with the performance of Health Minister Mary Harney in a survey conducted by Newstalk 106. Of Fianna Fáil’s 44 backbenchers, 37 responded to the survey, of which 23 were unhappy with the HSE.