Daly resigns as hospital group chief

Health Minister James Reilly is under pressure to make an emergency Dáil statement on the sudden resignation of the chairman of the West North-West Hospital Board.

Noel Daly stood down from the post after being accused of a conflict of interest by Sinn Féin.

Mr Daly said he quit because he did not want his personal or professional reputation to be compromised by the row.

Sinn Féin attacked Mr Daly because he is a shareholder in a private healthcare firm that conducted a survey of maternity services for the hospital group, which the party claims reflected a privatisation ethos.

Sinn Féin leader Gerry Adams said serious questions remained about Dr Reilly’s appointment of Mr Daly to the role.

“Mr Daly had no option other than resignation considering what has emerged about his conflict of interests, which breached HSE financial regulations,” said Mr Adams after raising the matters several times in the Dáil.

“This man should never have been appointed to this position.

“I want to know if the Government will immediately publish the findings of the review by the HSE into how D&F Health partnership was awarded a contract to examine maternity services in the Hospital Group’s remit.

“Mr Daly is a well-known promoter of health privatisation and was appointed as chair of this Hospital Group by James Reilly.”

Mr Adams, who is a TD for Louth, added: “Minister Reilly needs to explain how such an appointment was made considering the glaring conflict of interests involved.”