Government Defeats FG Health Motion

The Government comfortably defeated a Fine Gael motion in the Dáil last night that was critical of the services for cystic fibrosis and mental health patients.

During the proceedings, Fine Gael’s health spokesperson Dr James Reilly said that on Tuesday night a Government spokesman had said he was disgusted at the way the Opposition had criticised Minister Mary Harney, for missing the health debate – as she was in the US.

Dr Reilly said that what disgusted him was the fact that cystic fibrosis patients here die ten years younger than those with the same illness living in Northern Ireland and in Britain.