Reilly faces Cabinet grilling over ‘political slush fund’ row

A row over the fast-tracking of hospital improvements in ministerial constituencies has forced its way onto the Cabinet agenda.

Health Minister James Reilly is expected to brief colleagues over the controversy which erupted after it emerged he intervened to speed up work in the constituencies of Environment Minister Phil Hogan and Public Expenditure Minister Brendan Howlin.

With Fianna Fáil accusing Mr Reilly of using the HSE like a “political slush fund”, Education Minister Ruairi Quinn said the situation needed explaining.