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JOHN HALLIGAN’S FUTURE in the Government remains unclear after he again hit out at his Fine Gael colleagues.
The Minister of State for Skills and Training has been threatening to leave the Fine Gael-led minority government if a second catheterisation lab, which specialises in examining the heart, isn’t opened at University Hospital Waterford.
In an interview with the Sunday Independent, Halligan said: “I will bring all hell down on top of them if they don’t deliver this.”
The Independent Alliance member accused three Fine Gael ministers, Michael Noonan, Simon Coveney and Simon Harris, of “dirty politics” in relation to the issue.
“What they should do now, if they believe I am destabilising the Government, is put me out. F*** ‘em. Put me out. I don’t care. If that’s what they want to do, put me out. But I know what I am doing is right and honourable.”
Speaking to RTÉ News today, Halligan said he regrets it “has come to this”, adding he does not want to leave the Government but will if he has to.
Fine Gael TD Noel Rock told This Week Halligan’s interview with the newspaper was “extraordinary” and the “inflammatory language” he used wasn’t helpful.
‘We want to get on with our work’
When contacted by TheJournal.ie about Halligan’s comments, a Fine Gael spokesperson said: “The Programme for Government committed to the development of a second cath lab in University Hospital Waterford, subject to a favourable recommendation from an independent clinical review of the needs of the region to be carried out within six weeks.”
The spokesperson said the Belfast-based cardiologist, Dr Niall Herity, who completed the review is “highly respected”.
Dr Herity has made clear recommendations that a second cardiac cath lab at UHW is not justified and Minister Simon Harris and Fine Gael accept this. However, he also recommends investing in UHW to enhance the existing cardiac services, including increasing the number of weekly sessions currently provided, in order to address waiting times and to provide improved access for patients.
The spokesperson said the Government has “a large job of work to do now implementing all of the Programme for Government and working to make people’s lives better”, adding: “We want to get on with that work.”
The arrangement between Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil that allows the former to lead a minority government is dependent on them having the support of at least 58 members of the Dáil.
Currently the party has the support of 59 TDs, including Fine Gael members, the Independent Alliance, Katherine Zappone and Michael Lowry, who was formerly a Fine Gael minister.
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“Infected prisoners “- Carrie Lam thinks they are infected with the democracy virus
An outbreak = 7 prisoners tested positive. Is this for real? Or have I misunderstood?
@Brendan Harlowe: the is what a zero covid policy looks like .madness
@Brendan Harlowe: Yes just 7 prisoners, but 4,285 people tested positive in past 24 hours, and they all will be housed in government isolation centres.
@Alan Byrne: So then that means there are 4,285 prisoners
According to a news outlet earlier today, Hong Kong is taking even non-symptomatic cases into hospital.
Then treating patients outside where cameras and media can see them.
Looks like Hong King’s pro-Beijing govt is just using covid restrictions to really just clamp down on the freedoms of its population if you ask me.
These prisoners are lucky they haven’t been chosen for ” organ donation “. Id recommend people to watch ” Human Harvest ” an eye opener if anybody still needs one
Good
have your say