Minister denies health increase announcement was ‘sneaky’

The Health Minister has been accused of making the announcement of price increases in the health sector in a sneaky manner on Friday night.

The Minister last night revealed that the price of going to the accident and emergency unit is up by almost a third, from €31.70 to €40, and the threshold for the drugs payment scheme is up from €53 to €65.

Micheal Martin says the claims are nonsense.

Mr Martin said: "The media don't go to sleep over the weekend. I think that’s the most ridiculous assertion.

"Up front, we announced these charges and these increases, and there was no secrecy or anything attached to that".

He added: "It was an up front press release early in the day, and the notion that Friday is somehow a less media intensive day than a Thursday or a Saturday for that matter, is absolutely ridiculous".