Reilly in hiding as HSE announces sweeping cuts – Kelleher

Fianna Fáil Spokesperson on Health Billy Kelleher has asked why the Health Minister is nowhere to be seen as €130 million of extra cuts are confirmed for the health services.

Deputy Kelleher said the HSE announcement this afternoon will cause alarm to patients and their families across the country, and the Health Minister James Reilly has a duty to stand up and explain what is going on.

“People across the country are wondering, where is their Minister for Health and who is in charge?” said Deputy Kelleher.

“We have heard nothing from him all summer despite a litany of controversies over his mishandling of the health budget.   He has failed to communicate in any way with the public, but still found the time to email his own Fine Gael colleagues about cuts in their area. This smacks of arrogance and shows a total lack of accountability.

“People do not want to hear about these cuts from the HSE.  This is Minister Reilly’s responsibility and he has a duty to explain what is going on so that people know what to expect. These extra cuts are being imposed because the Minister made a complete mess of the Health budget for this year, ignored the warnings about the financial crisis in the health service and misled the Dáil and the public about what was going on.

“Minister Reilly made sweeping changes to the HSE so that he could take complete control.  But unfortunately services have got worse. Having appointed his own board to the HSE and appointed the new Director-General without advertising the post, there is still no evidence of any improvement in accountability from the Minister.  What we are seeing now is a complete mess of the Minister’s own making.”