Fianna Fáil Spokesperson on Health, Billy Kelleher TD, has called on Minister Kathleen Lynch to clarify if she threatened to resign her position over a dispute regarding funding for mental health services.

Deputy Kelleher was speaking after Minister Lynch seemed to contradict herself this morning in the Dáil when she told Deputy Kelleher  she “never threatened to resign” despite not denying it last weekend.

“The mixed messages coming from Minister Kathleen Lynch are strange. Last weekend on national radio, Minister Lynch failed to deny that she had threatened to resign as Minster of State at the Department of Health over a dispute regarding the funding allocation for mental health services. Then this morning after I questioned her on the matter, she categorically denied she had ever threatened to resign.

“It is important that Minister Lynch provides some clarity. This story has been circulating in the media over the past week and she has added to the confusion by making conflicting statements.

“It is only adding to the sense of dysfunction that has engulfed the Department of Health. Are we now in a situation where a Minister must threaten to resign to secure funding that was promised in the Programme for Government?

“I am calling on Minister Lynch to make a statement on this at the earliest possible opportunity.”