Fitzgerald accepts Reilly explanation
The Children’s Minister Frances Fitzgerald says she accepts James Reilly's reasons for adding two sites in his own constituency to a list of primary care centres.
Minister for Health Reilly told the Dáil last night that the sites, in the Swords and Balbriggan areas of Dublin, were added because they had previously been considered a priority but lost out after a change in criteria.
The Junior Health Minister Róisín Shortall, who has resigned over the controversy, put more emphasis on deprived areas in need of primary care centres.
Speaking this morning, Fitzgerald said every week is a difficult one for the coalition because of the problems they inherited and she accepts Minister Reilly's explanation.
“He outlined the reasons why he took the decisions he did. I accept those reasons,” she said.
“What’s important now is to focus on delivering those primary care centres in communities around the country that need them. Let the new minister Alex White get on with the job, that’s where the focus should be now.”
