Luke Flanagan (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Independent) | Oireachtas source

When one applies for a job in the normal world, one is supposed to tell the truth about what one will do, how hard one will work and what one's qualifications are. In advance of the general election in an open letter to the people of Roscommon, the person who is now Minister for Health, Deputy Reilly, said the following:

I would like to confirm that Fine Gael undertakes, in accordance with the Fine Gael Policy on Local Hospitals, to retain the Emergency, Surgical, Medical and other health services at Roscommon Hospital which are present on the formation of the 31st Dáil. [It got even better, though.] Furthermore, in the event of the A&E being downgraded, we are committed to reinstating a 24/7 service, where feasible.

In a normal job when one tells a porky, one loses one's job if found out. For that reason alone - there are many other reasons - the Minister should resign.

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