Reilly 'has questions to answer'

Health Minister Dr James Reilly is not fit for his role, after being named a debtor in Stubbs Gazette, Sinn Féin president Gerry Adams has suggested.

The minister, at a European meeting in Cyprus, has been shamed in the magazine over a €1.9m nursing home investment which turned sour.

Mr Adams said Dr Reilly had questions to answer over why he ran up a debt which can be linked to the private healthcare sector.

“It is a fact that the minister for health is taking decisions which benefit private health care,” said Mr Adams.

“If he has a personal investment in private health care provision is he a suitable person to be Health Minister?”

Both Sinn Féin and Fianna Fáil urged the minister to make a statement in the Dáil.

Dr Reilly, along with several other businessmen, invested in Green Hills private nursing home more than a decade ago.

But it is understood the deal turned sour last year and the High Court ordered those involved to buy out the Co Tipperary home from other investors for €1.9m.

In a statement last night, a spokesman for Dr Reilly said he intended to pay his share of the money back.

But he insisted the minister had nothing to do with the ownership of the business side of the property.

He said he had granted power of attorney to his solicitor in relation to his business interest in the asset after becoming minister.

Mr Adams said if Dr Reilly had a vested interest in the private nursing home, there could be a conflict of interest.

“Between January and May of this year, 296 public nursing home beds were closed,” said Mr Adams.

“There is currently something like 600 elderly patients who are in public hospital beds and should be out of that part of the health service and in nursing homes and there aren’t beds for them.”

He said the minister was making decisions in relation to the private nursing home, while also deciding to close private beds.

Meanwhile, Fianna Fáil health spokesman Billy Kelleher said it was very disturbing to see a Government minister's name appear in the Stubbs Gazette.

He said it reflected a lack of leadership on Dr Reilly’s part and called for him to clarify his position.

“My concern would be that it distracts him from implementing his duties in terms of his role for Minister for Health,” said Mr Kelleher.

“Quite clearly, we see a lack of leadership and a drift in policy and in implementation of policy.”

Read more: Reilly 'to be named on debt defaulters' list'