Shortall successor White: Reilly's conduct 'proper'

The incoming junior health minister has said he is confident that nothing underhand was behind James Reilly's decision to locate two primary care centres in his own constituency.

Alex White's comments come after his predecessor Roisín Shortall yesterday accused Minister Reilly of "stroke politics" and said he had blocked attempts to reform the health service.

Mr White will formally be appointed to replace Roisín Shortall as junior health minister on Tuesday after her resignation last Wednesday night.

The Labour TD for Dublin South said he had no reason to believe that the Health Minister had acted improperly.

"I'm not going to assume anything other than proper conduct on the part of the Minister in the public interest," he said.

"I'm quite sure that will be shown to have been the case."