Crunch time for Reilly and over-budget health service By Paul O’Brien

JAMES Reilly is starting early.

Under pressure professionally and personally, he has written to Fine Gael members this week about the forthcoming budget and its implications for the health services. The next few months, he warns starkly, will be “crunch time”.

August is usually when politicians go on holidays and keep a low profile. Cabinet meetings and the Dáil won’t resume until next month. But Dr Reilly, possibly stung by the flak he took during last year’s budget process, seems to be taking no chances this time round.