Reilly under pressure to rein in health spending as relations with Howlin sour

Health Minister James Reilly is expected to face growing pressure to rein in healthcare spending as promised savings in the HSE fail to materialise.

Relations between Dr Reilly, the Fine Gael deputy leader, and Public Expenditure Minister Brendan Howlin have soured in recent weeks over proposed budget cuts. Mr Howlin, a Labour minister, is overseeing planned savings for the budget with departments.

Senior Fine Gael and Labour ministers disagree on whether cuts and savings amounting to €3.1bn are necessary in the October budget. A number of ministers have already hinted that they will be unable to meet their targets. However, Taoiseach Enda Kenny has called on ministers to “stick to their targets” so Ireland can successfully exit the bailout programme at the end of the year.