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James Reilly Mark Stedman/Photocall Ireland

Reilly under fire for 'unanswered questions' after Dáil statement

Fianna Fáil has challenged the health minister to place his share of the debt settlement into a separate bank account.

JAMES REILLY HAS come under fire after his defence in the Dáil last night, with opposition figures saying that significant questions remain unanswered.

The Minister for Health is facing criticism for delivering a single personal statement at the end of the day’s business, and declining to take questions from TDs.

Fianna Fáil justice spokesperson Dara Calleary said if Reilly was “confident in his case”, he would have answered queries from the opposition over his appearance in a debt defaulters list.

Saying that the Dáil statement had not resolved the minister’s problems, Calleary also urged Reilly to place money for his share of the debt into a separate bank account. He told Newstalk Breakfast:

The reality is this morning he is still in contravention of a High Court order, and we have no indication of when that is going to be resolved. We would challenge him to release his share of the settlement into an account, to show that he realises how serious that is.

Sinn Féin health spokesperson Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin said Reilly had “not dispelled the concerns of those who believe there is a conflict of interest” in his state in a nursing home.

The Minister has left questions unanswered. He chose to make a ‘personal explanation’ under Dáil standing orders rather than to make his statement and then give Deputies the opportunity to question him.

Speaking to the Dáil last night, Reilly strongly denied that he had a conflict of interest through his investment in the nursing home. He said he had acted with “complete propriety” in his business affairs.

Read: James Reilly tells Dáil ‘I have acted with complete propriety at all times’>

In full: James Reilly’s statement explaining his business affairs>

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54 Comments
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    Mute Howye Lads
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    Aug 20th 2016, 7:18 AM

    Great idea to scrap a panel of recruits they had about 4 years ago where they had this exact issue then too!

    And that panel they assembled had cost us the taxpayer over 250k assemble! JOKERS!!

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    Mute Joe Foley
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    Aug 21st 2016, 10:31 AM

    Last public panel was 2005?

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    Mute John Kennedy
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    Aug 20th 2016, 9:34 AM

    How many “runs” did DFB do yesterday?, how many firefighters attended any incidents yesterday/last week?, and how many sat on their ar$e for their entire shift?.
    This is a whole load of hockum about nothing.

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    Mute Deirdre Ní Tháilliúir
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    Aug 21st 2016, 12:09 AM

    Wow there’s someone who sounds like they know a whole load about nothing. The turnout stats speak for themselves numpty.

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    Mute Linda Scully
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    Aug 21st 2016, 3:18 PM

    Say that when it’s your house on fire with someone inside and there aren’t enough fire trucks or fire fighters available to attend

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    Mute Mindfulirish
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    Aug 20th 2016, 4:56 PM

    And they want to build high rise fire Hazards all over Dublin. Should the city manager be charged with endangering life? Do a poll on the journal please.

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    Mute John Kidd
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    Aug 20th 2016, 8:18 PM

    Said would happen few years ago sad come to this fire servicer and public

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    Mute Eddie Dunne
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    Feb 25th 2017, 9:54 PM

    Well if fire trucks did not turn out on ambulance calls maybe the DFB would have enough fire engines

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    Mute Eddie Dunne
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    Feb 25th 2017, 9:50 PM

    Well if fire trucks stopped turning up on ambulance calls there would be no shortage , or blocking up the m50 ???

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