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Relations between Roisin Shortall and James Reilly are thought to have become strained since their appointment 16 months ago. Photocall Ireland

Does Roisin Shortall have confidence in James Reilly?

The junior health minister is asked – FOUR times – whether she has confidence in her superior, and doesn’t say Yes…

FIANNA FÁIL HAS called for clarification on the “policy differences” that exist between the Minister for Health, James Reilly, and a junior minister at his Department.

The call follows Roisin Shortall’s refusal to state her confidence in Reilly in a radio interview this morning – instead repeatedly saying that she and Reilly “need to work through the policy”.

The interview, on Newstalk’s Breakfast show, saw host Chris Donoghue ask Shortall on four occasions whether she had full confidence in James Reilly, following revelations about health overspending and the departure of HSE chief executive Cathal Magee.

“We have a working relationship within the Department,” she said the first time, saying Reilly had “his areas of responsibility, I have my areas of responsibility, as does [the other junior minister] Kathleen Lynch… we work on that”.

Pressed a second time, Shortall said:

We need to work through some of the policy issues, there’s no doubt about that… I think we need to communicate better on that. [...]

There is no room for personality differences.

Asked again, the Labour minister merely affirmed that the two “need to work through the policy in relation to the future of the health service.” When questioned a fourth time, she said: “We need to work through the policy.”

The Dublin North-West TD had earlier said it was “very wrong to think that [any disputes between herself and Reilly] is a personality issue”, saying the two dealt with each other “on a professional level”.

This is not about personality. That’s a kind of lazy way of addressing the issue. This is about the kind of health service that we have.

Tensions between the pair had been underlined last week when Shortall issued an individual press release following news of Magee’s departure, saying she regretted learning “from media reports” that Magee was to step down.

This evening Fianna Fáil’s health spokesman Billy Kelleher insisted there was a “growing gulf” between the pair, which was worrying given the “chaos” in the sector at present.

“Minister Shortall has now admitted that his is not about a personality difference between herself and Minister Reilly, but that significant ‘policy issues’ need to be worked through,” Kelleher said.

“Patients will be alarmed that there are such fundamental differences between the Ministers running, and supposedly reforming, their health services.”

Kelleher called for the two to meet and discuss their disagreements as a matter of urgency.

Read: “We’re drinking too much as a country” – Shortall confirms alcohol restrictions

Poll: Will the coalition government last until 2016?

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50 Comments
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    Mute Councillor Bill Clear
    Favourite Councillor Bill Clear
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    Oct 7th 2019, 8:22 AM

    Looks like he will have to write that letter at end of week.
    Simple solution boris, border in irish sea n ire in customs union. Dont listen to dup they do not represent north ireland.

    75
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    Mute Tommy Roche
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    Oct 7th 2019, 8:36 AM

    @Councillor Bill Clear: How is that a simple solution to get a deal ? Government would lose DUP support. Labour have no intention of voting for any deal negotiated by the current government. Lib-dems and the SNP do not want Brexit so will not back a deal. Your ‘simple solution’ has zero chance of getting through parliament.

    15
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    Mute ktsiwot
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    Oct 7th 2019, 8:45 AM

    @Tommy Roche: DUP numbers no longer hold the balance of power after the Tory rebel revolt.
    They no longer serve any purpose.

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    Mute Tommy Roche
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    Oct 7th 2019, 9:14 AM

    @ktsiwot: I do realise that. But if Johnson could convince the rebels to come back on side with a new deal, he would need DUP support. He won’t get it if it includes a border down the Irish sea.

    1
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    Mute Cowboy Paddy
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    Oct 7th 2019, 12:34 PM

    @Councillor Bill Clear:
    Sorry Bill, If that happened then Scotland would ask for the same deal, then London, Wales might like that too…

    This was floated before and that was the response…

    1
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    Mute Dara O'Brien
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    Oct 7th 2019, 7:11 AM

    Now the ball is in Corbyn’s Court. He’ll actually have to get off the fence and come up with a meaningful reason for the EU to grant an extension. If he won’t commit to a general election and/or second referendum then any extension refusal is on his head.

    62
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    Mute Tony Moore
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    Oct 7th 2019, 7:26 AM

    @Dara O’Brien: Corbyn is a clown , only fit to run the Irish health service .

    66
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    Mute Trevor J Coonan
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    Oct 7th 2019, 9:11 AM

    @Dara O’Brien:
    Yeah he’s the WORST PM in recent memory. Oh wait…

    16
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    Mute Dave.
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    Oct 7th 2019, 7:54 AM

    Seems like the Penny has finally dropped with Johnson on how much of a mess this is going to be. It’s now down to a finger pointing exercise.

    28
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    Mute Simon Connolly
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    Oct 7th 2019, 8:38 AM

    @Dave.: Did you read the article at all?? The penny certainly hasn’t dropped, in fact it seems to lodged in an unreachable orophus!! Boris and his buddies genuinely believe they have made huge compromises in his proposal. He has no understanding of the significance of the backstop and its role in protecting the GFA..but the worst of it all is he and many others don’t give a toss about the border issue!!

    33
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    Mute Dave Harris
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    Oct 7th 2019, 9:11 AM

    @Simon Connolly: Boris didn’t need penny to drop- he’s been planning a no deal brexit all along. He has ( or at least that snake Cummings)some underhanded plot, such as getting Hungary to veto the extension, so he can satisfy the Benn act, and achieve Brexit as well
    It’s all pure arseholery

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    Mute Cowboy Paddy
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    Oct 7th 2019, 12:36 PM

    @Dave Harris:
    If Hungry go there the backlash on them would be bad… They would be on the naughty step for years(maybe decades) for what?

    3
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    Mute Cian
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    Oct 7th 2019, 3:07 PM

    @Dave Harris: What would be in it for Hungary?

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    Mute Dave.
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    Oct 7th 2019, 8:49 AM

    Yes Simon, I have, in summary, Boris is saying we have done our part, EU need to do the same, finger pointing for when this lands on the UK, he can cover his own back, by saying well we done our part, it’s the EUs fault. Actually would expect less from him in fairness.

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    Mute Teresa
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    Oct 7th 2019, 11:06 AM

    the lobbying by big business in Europe is hardly ever discussed in the media I venture to guess that it is now at a very high level of intensity with volumes and profits shrinking for most if not all eu-wide companies. Be sure they want a deal. Macron, Barnier and other un-elected beaurocrats, Vardaker it’s time to make a deal the delay tactics in the hope of another outcome down the road is sinking every economy including ours into a deeper abyss.

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    Mute Cowboy Paddy
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    Oct 7th 2019, 12:44 PM

    @Teresa:
    You really don’t know how Europe works…

    Europe look at this as an opportunity as well as a crisis… Europe can show how it looks after a small nation like Ireland and show our strength in our unity. The UK has shown us how bad leaving the EU is, Italy were on the fence on leaving are now firmly in the stay camp… Actually this whole thing could have created a stronger Europe…

    10
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    Mute Mary Ward
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    Oct 7th 2019, 7:01 PM

    @Teresa: Absolutely spot on and it the public funds .. small industy want state aid.

    TD will be asked to vote on these estimate .

    Minister wont be able to touch fund withot TD Votes

    It is TD duty to allocat spending out of public purse.
    It is their duty to know how much there is to spend but

    1 as far as min for finance concerned 44 billion owed to eu but minister do not make law . that is sole job of oireachtas.
    and
    2 TD pass legislation giving Minister for Finance key to pension funds to take up to EIGHT BILLION to pay for ‘mitigation of exceptional circumstances ‘

    The public defcit is now in excess of the threshold under the fiscal compact treaty ( it would not be if Dail had min lay the deal made by B Leniahns laid befoe the Dail ) and EU Commission can tell govt u reduce the deficit ( why he is not borrowing) of accept B J Deal .

    How can TD vote on estimate if dail has no control over what is in the fund to spend and the Dail has not cos TD have done what minister say rather than having govt account to the Dail and we are paying .

    As a result the deficit is in excess of 60 per cent threshold under fiscal compact treaty ( it would not be if Dail TD had Minister lay that deal made by B Lenihan before the Dail ).

    Minister need TD vote to take money out of public fund and seem to me that TD can tell Min they will vote but in return min must lay the deal before the dail and redcue deficit until terms agreed and leg on statute books . Cos otherwsie u may see a lot more money coming out of them pension funds for god know what if UK leaves and no deal .

    .

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    Mute Willy Mc Bride
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    Oct 7th 2019, 9:26 AM

    The Auld Macron , Merkel bus is a coming..

    6
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    Mute Stephen Devlin
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    Oct 7th 2019, 9:56 AM

    @Willy Mc Bride: Yep, Boris is for it.

    9
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    Mute Willy Mc Bride
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    Oct 7th 2019, 10:10 AM

    @Stephen Devlin: Hope your right. But form suggests we are for it…

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    Mute Shougeki
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    Oct 7th 2019, 10:58 AM

    @Willy Mc Bride: You have been saying this constantly with no evidence. If they try to make a deal that doesnt suit Ireland we can veto it. To do otherwise would be political suicide.
    Not to mention the fact if they throw Oreland under the bus, other countries may get itchy feet

    8
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    Mute WoodlandBard
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    Oct 7th 2019, 9:24 AM

    Boris is both a Genius and Lazy. He is really a Civil Service manager rather than minister. It seems his continuous policy is to set up complicated maze like plots to give the impression he is doing something. He knows they will fall apart so he can sit on his arse, point fingers at everyone, blame everyone, while he drinks more wine and paints buses on their empty wooden containers.

    8
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    Mute classic
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    Oct 7th 2019, 11:00 AM

    Does paddy have any say in this at all

    3
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    Mute Robert Preston
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    Oct 7th 2019, 6:46 PM

    @classic: Thats down to the EU Do as your told by Angela and Macron .

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    Mute Mary Ward
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    Oct 7th 2019, 7:22 PM

    @classic: Spot on and u can blame our TD one hundred per cent .

    Attached article from the sun about boris offer to pay ireland brexit costs .

    A golden opportunity for ireland to seek ammend to good friday agreemet in retr for consent to removal of backstop.

    My question why was not this debated in the DAIL .
    Why dd not leo varadker bring this proposal to the Dail for Dail instruction with ireland price ?

    Instead L Varadker n his cycling tour in denmark said we will be happy to see UK apply for an extensions. Johnston say take deal or we are out to the EU.

    Ireland is the real torn .

    The Commission refused to enter into negotiation with the UK over the weekend and I suspect the message was to the UK try to come to an arrangement with Irland . The Dail closed .

    If uk leaves as far as commission concerned ireland is responsible for the cost and Minister has taken 1. 5 billion euro out of the pensions fund with enabling legislation vote on by TDs.

    The country is in deficit over the fiscal compact treaty threshold as a DEBTOR AND if the UK does a lot mroe money coming out of the pension fund for them cost.

    But that deficit of 64.8 per cent include money 44 billion owed to eu under the IMF/EU bailout but that deal was made by a minister only and minister do not make law and cannot make law without dail and oireachtas .. the DAIL TD by failing to have min lay that deal before the Dail and no control ovre what is in the public fund for spending are voint on estimates .. and min with ther vote on the leg can now take pension fund to pay for brexit cos think pee reall nee to go to theIr TD ?

    1 Why is that deal by lenihan not laid before dail to reduce that deficit by 85 billion

    AND

    2 Why was not that ofeer by johnston not in Dail

    AND

    3 How can TD vote on estimates and min has to have TD VOtes otheriwse he canot touc the money if Dail not n control of what is in kitty ?

    And TD have consistent abrogated form ther duty to be in contro of the fund staring with not having that deal laid beofre the dial .

    REGARD gds

    MW

    1
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    Mute WoodlandBard
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    Oct 7th 2019, 9:14 AM

    It does seem BoJo has has done quite a de Pfeffel, his middle name, and I think I am starting to understand what it means.

    2
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    Mute John Walsh
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    Oct 7th 2019, 12:03 PM

    He might act like the buffoon but he’s definitely no fool, one can only assume there’s larger forces at play and the people of the UK and Ireland are mere cannon fodder.

    3
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    Mute Mary Ward
    Favourite Mary Ward
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    Oct 7th 2019, 7:25 PM
    1
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