FG criticise funding of Hanly Report spin-doctors

Fine Gael is hitting out at the Minister for Health's plans to hire private spin-doctors to sell the Hanly Report's recommendations to the public.

Fine Gael health spokesperson, Olivia Mitchell, described the move as election spending at its worst.

She said there is not a single cent in the 2004 budget to implement the Hanly Report, and to make a public relations exercise a funding priority, using already stretched Department of Health funding, is an attempt to limit damage in the local elections.

Ms Mitchell said that despite the fact that the Government wanted to take doctors away from local hospitals, there seemed to be plenty of money for the ‘spin-doctors’.