Magee denies rift with Reilly behind quit decision

The HSE chief executive Cathal Magee has denied he's leaving his post because of tensions with the Health Minister, James Reilly.

However Magee says he would be happy to stay in his job if the Minister was not changing the structure of the HSE, to take more control of the health service.

Earlier today, Reilly stated that Magee's decision was one made solely by himself: "Cathal Magee is a man I repsect and I respect his decision. This is his decision and his alone.

“In relation to Mr Magee, the secretary general received a letter last Friday which stated his intention to leave and step down. It’s important for the system, the public and the HSE to know that Mr Magee has expressed his intention to step down but has not resigned.”

"As regards to the comments of Micheál Martin, who had charge of the health portfolio for four years and produced many reports but very little else, I have no further comment to make. I will make them in the Dáil chamber."

Reilly has unveiled new re-structuring plans which will see seven new directors appointed to manage specific areas of the service, before its abolition by 2014.

However Fianna Fáil says it will create even further bureaucracy.

The party's health spokesman, Billy Kelleher, says the changes won't protect patient services or save money: "It's further bureaucracy. It means more directors, more chiefs at the top and at the end of the day what we have is a situation where the service is in crisis.

"It's over budget and we're going to have a downgrading of services. The Minister has promised a lot but what he's really doing is re-arranging the deckchairs on the Titanic."