Stephen Donnelly criticises HSE at Fianna Fáil party meeting

The Health Minister told the Fianna Fáil meeting that facilities at University Hospital Galway are "not up to scratch", among other comments about the HSE.

Health Minister Stephen Donnelly expressed his frustration with the HSE. Picture: Gareth Chaney/ Collins Photos

Health Minister Stephen Donnelly has voiced strong criticism of the HSE at a private meeting of the Fianna Fáil party.

Speaking to his own TDs and senators, Mr Donnelly hit out at the poor record of recruitment within the health service as well as the length of time it takes the HSE to build new buildings.

There are two areas where the HSE is too slow — recruitment and capital buildings,” he said.

Sources said Mr Donnelly singled out University Hospital Galway as an example of unnecessary delays.

“We talk about the emergency department in Galway,” he told his colleagues.

We have been talking about that for 12 years. And Galway by a mile is the emergency department under the most pressure.

“Just the facilities in Galway are not up to scratch. I got on to Paul Reid telling him you have to accelerate the plan for Galway.” 

Fury over Navan hospital plan

Meath senator Shane Cassells delivered a furious speech directed at Taoiseach Micheál Martin about the proposal to downgrade the emergency department at Our Lady’s Hospital in Navan.

He said as “a Meath man”, he would not be “lectured” to by medical people who do not have to go before the people for election.

“Remember 13 years ago, Navan was identified as the site for the new regional hospital in the North East,” he said. 

"So when people talk about political interference in this … don’t talk to me about political interference.

Fianna Fáil senator Shane Cassells was not shy about expressing his views on plans for Our Lady’s Hospital in Navan. Picture: Sam Boal / RollingNews.ie

“My town was designated for the regional hospital. And why did it not happen, because Dermot Ahern got up and said not one red cent will be allocated to a hospital in Navan.”

“So don’t talk to me about political interference when in this very room, political interference stopped a regional hospital being built in Navan,” he thundered.

“Political interference stopped Navan then, but political interference is going to save Navan Hospital now,” he added.

I will not be lectured by medical people telling me, a Meath man, that we will have blood on our hands when they have not done their jobs.”

“They think it is right and proper to send people to queue for 13 hours in Drogheda,” he added.

Cavan TD Niamh Smyth and senator Eugene Murphy backed Mr Cassells, with Mr Murphy saying: “Don’t give in to the HSE on Navan.”

At the meeting, Kilkenny TD John McGuinness called on Mr Donnelly to explain why victims of the CervicalCheck scandal are being subjected to “barbaric” treatment at the tribunal established by the minister.