Howlin: HSE must sign up to cost-cutting plan

Brendan Howlin, the public expenditure minister, has put himself on a collision course with the HSE, warning it must sign up to his cost cutting plan laid down in last week’s budget.

He has also disputed a claim by Health Minister Dr James Reilly that he imposed €113m in cuts to the medical card scheme, saying it was “decided by Government”.

The HSE has cast doubt over plans to slash €113m from the scheme saying it will carry out an independent review of the figure before agreeing to include it its service plan for 2014.