Harris determined to breathe life into health service

Simon Harris is determined he can achieve what his predecessors were unable to do — fix the health service.

The health minister has strongly denied that being kept in the Department of Health was worse than a demotion and is now determined to overhaul the crisis hit system.

Mr Harris, who backed the unsuccessful Simon Coveney in the Fine Gael leadership bid, has said he has a good relationship with Taoiseach Leo Varadkar, despite rumours to the contrary.