Health budget under scrutiny

Taoiseach Enda Kenny and Public Expenditure Minister Brendan Howlin have taken the unprecedented step of overseeing all budget changes by Health Minister James Reilly after repeated over-runs in the system.

The Irish Examiner has learned the move was signed off in the final days before Budget 2014 was finalised, in a bid to ensure the health service’s promised savings can be delivered.

Speaking to this newspaper last night, a spokesperson for Dr Reilly insisted the move was the minister’s own decision.