Kenny accused of insulting 200 obese people

Taoiseach Enda Kenny has been accused of insulting more than 200 morbidly obese people on a waiting list for lifesaving operations by suggesting that prevention is better than cure for their condition.

Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin said this group is not being taken seriously and is calling for a reversal of the decision to cancel public gastric bypass operations for the remainder of the year as part of cost-cutting measures.

Mr Kenny said the money is not available to carry out all the operations needed in the health service. He said there was “not an endless resource for this operation or any other”, but that “I believe that prevention is better than cure”.