The Fianna Fáil Leader Micheál Martin has called on the Oireachtas Health Committee to reconvene as soon as possible to investigate fresh revelations about a deepening budget crisis in the health service.
Deputy Martin said, “This is an urgent matter that cannot wait until after the summer. The Health Minister James Reilly needs to be questioned immediately about why he withheld vital information for months about the escalating health budget crisis.
“Dr Reilly has a duty to the public and to the Oireachtas to explain why he ignored warnings from Cathal Magee since March, and why he fobbed off the Dáil on several occasions when concerns were raised about the health budget. He also needs to outline now how he intends to ensure that frontline services and patients do not suffer as result of his financial mismanagement.
“The series of failures that have come to light this week regarding the mismanagement of the health budget and the preparation of flawed health estimates must be investigated urgently. The health budget is out of control and Minister Reilly cannot get away with continuing to put this extremely serious on the long finger”
