Rift between McCreevy and Micheál Martin

According to the Sunday Independent this morning there is tension between the Ministers for Finance and Health.

The report claims Charlie McCreevy wrote a letter to Micheál Martin saying he is alarmed and dismayed at the way the health service is being run.

The Department of Finance is eager to cutback on costs - back-peddling on the provision of promised heart-lung transplant technology. Mr McCreevy also suggested the Department of Health should opt for cheaper blood products for haemophiliacs.

Fergal Bowers of the Sunday Independent and Irishhealth.com says the Department of Health has refused this directive.