Clash after PAC chair tells health chiefs to quit

The chair of the Dáil Public Accounts Committee and Health Minister James Reilly have clashed over claims two of the system’s most senior officials should resign over repeated "Groundhog Day" failures.

During a heated exchange at the latest meeting of the public spending watchdog, PAC chair John McGuinness lashed out at Department of Health secretary general Ambrose McLoughlin and HSE director general Tony O’Brien for ongoing health service problems.

After being told the system could be €500m over-budget by year-end, will not be able to return 1,190 discretionary medical cards removed after appeals from seriously ill people since January despite heralded reform plans, and is still facing key staff shortages, he said the issue has become a broken tape.