Pledge on free GP care cannot be met: Rabbitte

A key health pledge by the Coalition to provide free GP care for all by the next election will not be met, Communications Minister Pat Rabbitte has signalled.

As Health Minister James Reilly tried to put a brave face on the troika’s demands for monthly spending reports after he allowed medical budgets to overrun by €360m, the admission was a further blow to the Government’s competency in such a high-profile area.

Despite a clear commitment in the Programme for Government to remove GP fees for all, Mr Rabbitte expressed doubts that this would be achieved.