Unhealthy strokes from a minister who hasn’t delivered right medicine

JAMES REILLY has done something remarkable.

The Fine Gael deputy leader and Minister for Health has managed to offer Fianna Fáil the opportunity to take a position on the high moral ground, one it has seized enthusiastically.

Opposition leader Micheál Martin, who does not have the most distinguished record as a former holder of the health ministry, apart from introducing the smoking ban, is promising another vote of no confidence in the minister, this time next March (the earliest time possible as there must be a six month gap after a previous failed attempt). He may succeed only in embarrassing, rather than removing, the minister, but that he has considered it worthwhile to promise the move, four months in advance of when the vote can be taken, shows how low Reilly’s stock has fallen.