Indications that the Tánaiste will be appointed Minister for Health when the Cabinet reshuffle is announced tomorrow will cause alarm in the sector, Sinn Féin claimed today.
The party's Dáil leader and health spokesperson, Mr Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin, said the PDs had broken several promises contained in the 2002 General Election manifesto.
"There are now almost 100,000 fewer people with medical cards than when the FF/PD Government took office in 1997 . . . we have one of the most inequitable health services in Europe," Mr Ó Caoláin said.
He urged the Government to use the resources available in the economy to fund health reform and improvements.
He also accused the Progressive Democrats of bullying their senior partner in government into pursuing a right-wing agenda.
"After seven years of PDs and Fianna Fáil in Government, this State has the highest level of relative income poverty in Europe with 21 per cent of the population living on less than 60 per cent of the average income," he added.
Mr Ó Caoláin said tomorrow's reshuffle should bring real changes to policy not simply a change of Government image. "The Taoiseach needs to deliver the goods and not just shuffle the deck."