Sinn Féin leader Gerry Adams has accused Minister for Health Dr James Reilly of a conflict of interest in an appointment he made to a hospitals group.

Mr Adams told the Dáil this afternoon it was not appropriate that "a major player in a private health consultancy firm, promoting the privatisation of health services" was appointed the chairperson of a major public health body by Dr Reilly.

Mr Adams said Dr Reilly had said in the Seanad an issue had arisen relating to the commissioning of a report on maternity services in the west and the northwest.

The report, he added, had been carried out by a private consultancy firm, Health Partnership, also known as DNF Health Partnership, a company with a long record of promoting the privatisation of health services.

He told Minister for Finance Michael Noonan there were huge concerns that the report, if implemented, could result in the closure of maternity services in the region.

“Is the Minister aware that the founder and 50 per cent shareholder of this private consultancy firm was appointed by Dr Reilly as chairperson of west and northwest hospitals group, a major State public health body?” Mr Adams asked.

“Does the Minister accept that this is a huge conflict of interest?”

Mr Noonan, who was taking Opposition leaders’ questions in the absence of Taoiseach Enda Kenny, said it was “a rather small country”, and people had different roles to play at different times in their careers.

“Sometimes there can be an appearance of conflict, but, as I understand it, no conflict occurred in this case,’’ Mr Noonan added.

The Minister added he did not have an extensive brief on the matter and he would get back to Mr Adams in due course.

Mr Adams and Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin wished Mr Noonan well following his recent illness.