Reilly denies he is being ‘held back’

Health Minister James Reilly, on a breakneck trip to the South-West for a number of pre-election duties yesterday, denied he was being "held back" by Fine Gael strategists because of a perceived lack of popularity.

“I have never been held back,” he told reporters, insisting any candidate he had campaigned with had been more than happy for his support.

“I didn’t take this job to be popular. My focus is on my job, but it is also very much on the campaign trail,” he said.