Taoiseach hits out at Dept of Health after Varadkar spat

The Taoiseach has hit out at the Department of Health in the aftermath of his apparent spat with Minister Leo Varadkar.

The Minister was rebuked earlier this week after casting doubt over whether reforms set out by his predecessor James Reilly could be achieved within planned timeframes.

A briefing document for Minister Varadkar prepared by staff in his department had highlighted concerns over plans for universal health insurance in particular.

Taoiseach Enda Kenny had warned the minister - and others - not to speculate about the measures being planned for the Budget in five weeks.

Mr Kenny said it was not the case that Leo Varadkar was "slapped down" over his comments.

"What annoyed me was the fact that…(Department of Health staff) had obviously been preparing for his arrival and presented him with a document of something like 300 pages, indicating what you cannot do," he said.

"Government is about making changes that impact on people's lives for their betterment, and what we have to do in the health area is to move to what Government policy is."

Meanwhile, Mr Varadkar said he was "a big boy" and did not mind being "slapped down" by the Taoiseach.

Minister Varadkar said: "I don’t mind being slapped down or scolded. I'm a big boy and I'm willing to take a degree of criticism from time to time.

"This isn’t about me or my dignity or my ego. It's about patients and staff and our health services, which affect all of us. And I think everyone in Government needs to get behind our health services."