Varadkar: Labour 'throwing shapes' over split

The Transport Minister Leo Varadkar is dismissing talk of a split in the Coalition.

Varadkar: Labour 'throwing shapes' over split

The Transport Minister Leo Varadkar is dismissing talk of a split in the Coalition.

Mr Varadkar has said Labour TDs were merely "throwing shapes" at the weekend, in their criticism of the Health Minister Dr James Reilly's proposed €130m cuts to the sector.

He said Dr Reilly is simply doing what is needed.

Mr Varadkar said: "I think people are smarter than some politicians believe, and they know posturing, they know people throwing shapes when they see it.

"What was happening was that you had a number of TDs annoyed that they didn't get informed of the position sooner, that is understandable.

"They wanted to show that they were concerned about the cuts and they wanted to assert the identity of their party, but at the same time James has to do his job within the limits of the budget given to him by Brendan Howlin and the confines of the Croke Park Agreement."

Meanwhile, an Ennis Labour councillor has tendered his resignation to party officials in protest at what he describes as "the savage health care cuts set to be imposed by Government".

Paul O'Shea said he has been left with little choice but to quit the Coalition party, and will only reconsider his position if the costsaving measures are reversed.

The cuts have already created a divide among the government parties, with two Labour TDs yesterday voicing their anger over the proposals.

Councillor O'Shea has said Clare FM he is planning to hold a public meeting on the cuts next week.

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