FF calls for 'discredited' Health Minister to resign
Fianna Fáil has called for James Reilly to step down today, accusing the Health Minister of "misleading" people about free GP care.
The demand comes amid reports that the Government's proposal to provide free GP care for all is to be scrapped.
The first phase for those with long-term illnesses was to be implemented last year, but it has been reported that a "legal issue" has led to a delay.
Latest reports suggest that Minister Reilly's plan will be shelved permanently.
Fianna Fail's Health Spokesperson Billy Kelleher says it is time for Minister Reilly to go.
"Quite clearly, we're very concerned now that Minister Reilly is just incapable of delivering the reform he spoke about so passionately two years ago," he said.
"We now have a central plank of the health policy being completely undermined in the last couple of days.
"We now know that free GP care is not going to happen, as proposed by the Government, and this is going to have a knock-on effect in the whole area of universal health insurance.
"So we're saying at this stage that the Minister has been deluding himself for the last number of years, he's been misleading us in terms of free GP care, and he's discredited himself and I think it's time for him to go."
