Things heating up in the #Dáil. @RoisinShortall has accused the Ceann Comhairle of bringing the House into disrepute by protecting Ministers
— Alan Hynes ن (@hynesalan) December 12, 2014
During the ongoing Water Services Bill debate this morning.
More to follow.
Speaking in the Dáil last night Dr Reilly said Swords and Balbriggan were identified as high priority areas by the HSE five years ago. But both “lost out” after Minister of State Róisín Shortall increased the weighting attached to deprivation in selecting priority locations in which centres would be built.
“Multiplying the deprivation index by three, they lost out. They were swept from high priority to low priority. Under the original priority system both would have been in the top 35. However, under the new system with an altered weighting system they ended down the list.”
Just a minute there, Bottler.
According to documents obtained by the Irish Times:
…Balbriggan ranked 44th and Swords 127th in a draft list compiled last June – before Ms Shortall ordered officials to increase the weighting attached to deprivation.
Ouch.
(Mark Stedman/Photocall Ireland)
A dangerous game…
THE FAILURE of senior Labour Ministers to back Róisín Shortall in her dispute with Minister for Health James Reilly was the deciding factor in her decision to resign as Minister of State, according to supporters.
The last straw for Ms Shortall came on Monday night when Labour leader Eamon Gilmore publicly backed Dr Reilly over his party colleague in a row about primary care centres, according to sources close to the former junior minister.
Her resignation has plunged Labour into its biggest political crisis since it entered Government in February 2011.
In fairness, that February 2011 crisis was a doozy…
Tánaiste’s backing for Reilly was ‘last straw’ for Shortall (Paul Cullen, Irish Times)
(Leon Farell/Photocall Ireland)
FINE GAEL and Labour Ministers have closed ranks behind Minister for Health James Reilly following the latest damaging row with his Labour Minister of State, Róisín Shortall.
As Dr Reilly defended his decision to add two locations in his constituency to a priority list for primary care centres, Ms Shortall publicly called on him to explain his rationale. Three times when questioned by reporters yesterday, she declined to express confidence in the Minister.
In a barbed response, Dr Reilly pointed out that his junior minister had voted for him in the Dáil no confidence vote on Wednesday, adding that “actions speak louder than words”.
There were no contacts between the two politicians yesterday.
*medium popcorn, bitter lemon, sour grapes*
(Mark Stedman/EamonnFarrell/Photocall Ireland)