A body set up by the Government to give local councillors a say in HSE matters has passed a motion of no confidence in the Minister for Health Mary Harney.
The West Regional Health Forum is one of four groups established in 2006 to allow councillors make representations to the HSE on local health issues.
At its latest monthly meeting, the body passed a motion of no confidence in Mary Harney by 15 votes to 11, despite some strong opposition.
Fine Gael councillor Padraig Conneely, who proposed the motion, says the health service is a "shambles and a chaos" and said that Mary Harney needs to take responsibility for the situation.