THERE ARE “no knives” out for Minister for Health James Reilly, a Labour Minister said yesterday before stressing she did not believe people wanted another general election.
Minister of State for Housing Jan O’Sullivan said she believed Fine Gael and Labour could work out the contentious issues that had arisen over health cuts.
“I don’t believe that the people want us to go to the country. I believe that, as two parties in government with a very strong mandate, we can work out the issues that need to be worked out. We’re two separate parties but we have a very good working relationship. I believe that . . . discussions ongoing at the moment . . . will resolve the issues,” she said in Limerick yesterday.
Asked if she agreed with the health service cuts announced last week, which have provoked widespread anger, she replied: “We have to ensure that we meet with commitments with regard to achieving budgets and we have to protect the vulnerable, in so far as we can. There are discussions going on – there have been over the weekend – between the Minister for Health and the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform. There will be a Cabinet meeting tomorrow and that will be the opportunity to discuss this issue.
“We are realistic. We do realise there is a lot of pain going on in the country, but we have to sort out the problems that are there. We have to meet budget targets and we have to do it in a way that protects the most vulnerable.”
Asked if the knives were out for Dr Reilly, she replied: “There are no knives. This is about two mature parties talking to each other; we will continue discussions. The Cabinet will work together to ensure that we address the issues that are there.”
However, she did not give a definitive answer when asked if she had confidence in the Minister for Health.
“Look, I have confidence that we can work together to address the issues that are there for . . . all the political figures concerned.
“It is a matter, sometimes, when there are two parties who have a different agenda at times on issues, it is a matter of talking these issues through and I’ve confidence that we will be able to do that.”
Asked whether she was concerned about an election even being mentioned at this stage, she replied: “Well, I don’t think that the public wants an election at all. The public has put us there to do a job – to solve the problems that are there. I believe we can and will do that. I think we’ve made an excellent start.
“There’s been great progress in terms of the dealings with the troika and reaching our targets.
“We will continue to do that and this is why we are there and there is already evidence that there is the beginnings of a turnaround and that’s what we are working on.”
On the handling of the health cuts amid claims that Cabinet members had not been informed in advance, Ms O’Sullivan said colleagues would have been aware of the announcement if the Dáil was not on a summer break.
“It was during the summertime, I think we all would have felt it would have been better if we had had more time to discuss these issues. But I think it was maybe an accident of the time of year,” she said.