Government told 'a pack of lies' about care centre list, says Martin
Fianna Fáil leader Michéal Martin has today called on the Health Minister to resign, accusing the Government of telling "a pack of lies" regarding the location of primary care centres.
Michéal Martin's comments come after documents obtained by the Irish Times reveal that Minister James Reilly added two locations in his North Dublin constituency to the list of places chosen for primary care centres just the evening before that list was due to be announced.
This is despite the fact that these locations in Balbriggan and Swords did not feature in the agreed list of the top 30 locations drawn up by the HSE and his then Minister of State Róisín Shortall.
According to the documents, Swords ranked 130th in this list, while Balbriggan ranked 44th.
"I'm absolutely shocked at the revelation, in the sense that it illustrates that the Minister, the Tánaiate and the Taoiseach were telling us a pack of lies over the last number of months," he said.
"We've been asking in the Dáil repeatedly for the criteria that Minister Reilly allegedly used for the selection of these primary care sites.
"Now it emerges tharought Freedom of Information requests, that we and others tabled, that there was no such criteria, and he did it solely for political purposes."
The controversy led to the resignation of Deputy Shortall from her position as Junior Health Minister.
