Outgoing HSE chief admits tension with Reilly

The outgoing head of the HSE has admitted there are tensions between himself and James Reilly, the health minister.

The admission came after HSE chief executive Cathal Magee told Mr Reilly last week that he would be resigning from his position.

Opposition parties have argued that Mr Magee was pushed from his post but the claim has been strongly rejected by Taoiseach Enda Kenny, among others.

Mr Kenny met Mr Magee at Government Buildings yesterday after a request for the meeting from the HSE chief. Mr Magee said he outlined the rationale for his decision to step down at the meeting.

He said Mr Kenny had not asked him to reconsider his decision.

“We had a very good meeting. I’ve enormous respect for the Taoiseach. He has been very supportive of all that we’ve been trying to do in the health system and the reform and dealing with the budgetary challenges.”

A Government spokesman said the meeting was positive, general in nature, and was also about moving forward and reform.

Mr Magee’s decision to leave caused controversy this week. Fianna Fáil claimed Mr Reilly was volatile and that his failure to support the HSE’s budget led to Mr Magee’s decision.

Mr Reilly’s failure to inform Labour ministers also caused a stir, after ministers said they learned of the resignation in the media.

Mr Magee said yesterday he did not feel like he had been “shoved out” of his job, as alleged by Fianna Fáil.

His departure comes as the Government moves ahead with its plan to abolish the HSE. New governance rules and the roles of new directors for the group were announced this week.

Mr Magee said he respected Mr Reilly’s programme of reform. He said his decision to waive the remaining three years of his €322,000 annual salary and pension contributions was appropriate given the challenges facing the economy.

“This would have come out of the health vote, the health system... we’ve already a lot of financial challenges in the system.”

He admitted there was tension between himself and Mr Reilly. “My relationship with the minister had nothing to do with the decision that I’ve made.

“I’ve had very businesslike relationships [sic] with the minister. They’re fairly robust, they’re fairly frank. Of course there are tensions from time to time. It’s a very difficult portfolio for the minister. It’s a very difficult portfolio for the chief executive and the HSE.

“All of the choices and decisions that are made are difficult and there are tensions around those and I think that needs to be understood.”

Mr Magee said health workers had equally faced challenges recently, with €2bn in cuts to the system.

“Tension and stresses, and even differences of opinion were part of the management of change in the health system,” he added.