Bruton says minister must deliver on health reforms

Health Minister James Reilly “needs to deliver” on reforms of the health service, according to his Fine Gael colleague Richard Bruton.

“The important challenge for James Reilly is to reform the entire health service.

“With declining resources he is having to reform the way the hospital system works, having a stronger primary care system and he needs to deliver that,” Mr Bruton told RTÉ radio.

As the controversy over primary care centres entered its third week, Mr Reilly came under renewed pressure from the opposition to provide clarity on his criteria for choosing locations.

Fianna Fáil said it’s time for the Taoiseach Enda Kenny, to show leadership and “take some control of the situation”.

The Sunday Business Post published details yesterday of correspondence from Mr Reilly to Balbriggan Town Council which gave some insight into the timing of events. The letter — sent before Mr Reilly added 15 locations to a list of 20 priority locations in July — shows he knew at that stage that a site in Balbriggan had been selected by the HSE as a location for a primary care centre.

He proceeded to add Balbriggan to the list of 20 areas earmarked for a separate funding arrangement, through public private partnership projects.

The site was owned by a political supporter in North Dublin, Seamus Murphy. But the minister insists he was not involved in the selection of the individual sites.

Fianna Fáil said Dr Reilly had “ample opportunity” to explain the criteria used for selecting sites but had “failed to give any coherent and plausible explanation”.

Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin accused the minister of choosing the two sites in his constituency, and one in Roscommon, for political gain.

“Basically, he fixed the list.” Mr Martin told party supporters at his address to the Cáirde Fáil dinner in Dublin on Saturday night.

“He is causing a crisis through the health system. He has misled the Dáil. He has broken direct and solemn promises to communities throughout the country. He has proven to be incapable of working with colleagues,” said Mr Martin.