Donnelly denies criticising Fine Gael over 'significant' health service problems 

Stephen Donnelly, addressing an online meeting of grassroots Fianna Fáil members on Monday night, said the coalition had inherited waiting lists that were unacceptable.

Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly said the coalition had inherited waiting lists that were unacceptable. Picture: Brian Lawless/PA Wire

Health Minister Stephen Donnelly has said he was not criticising Fine Gael when he said there were “very significant problems” in the health service when the coalition came to office.

Mr Donnelly, addressing an online meeting of grassroots Fianna Fáil members on Monday night, said the coalition had inherited waiting lists that were unacceptable. The Minister is also understood to have highlighted a series of health programmes which had not received promised levels of investment such as the National Cancer Strategy.