HSE budget: Coalition ‘standing over fraudulent health budget’

Fianna Fáil leader Micheal Martin has accused the Government of standing over a “fraudulent” health budget which has the sole intention of whitewashing the health crisis before the general election.

The opposition leader criticised the HSE budget plan for next year amid claims from other parties and doctors’ unions that the document will “simply continue the cycle of cuts” and will ensure medics will “book their flights” now to emigrate.

Mr Martin said that despite Health Minister Leo Varadkar’s view the funding plan will not involve cuts, the coalition “has to be honest” about the situation it is facing.