Gerry Adams: Government’s health policy is in tatters

The Government’s health policy is in "tatters" according to the Sinn Féin leader, Gerry Adams, who accused the Coalition of "hanging onto power" without doing what it was elected to do.

Speaking at his party’s meeting in Louth ahead of the new Dáil term, Mr Adams attacked the Tánaiste, Joan Burton, who, he said, had helped negotiate a Programme for Government “which saw Labour buy into the austerity policies of Fine Gael and deliberately break its election promises”.

He said: “As a senior Cabinet member, Joan Burton has overseen the implementation of water charges, the property tax, cuts to child benefit, removal of medical cards, cuts to health and welfare, and a succession of stealth taxes.