Mary Lou McDonald (Dublin Central, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

The Taoiseach does not have to convince me of the value of primary health care centres, which are the right model to pursue. However, that is not the issue at hand. Let me clarify that this is not personal to the Minister, but it is very clear that where a Minister for Health who presides over the public health care system and who has taken decisions to reduce bed numbers and close public nursing homes has an interest in private nursing homes, there is a clear and evident conflict of interest. It astounds me that this has not crossed the Taoiseach's mind. It astounds me that when making his ministerial appointments, the Taoiseach did not clarify the position with the Minister.

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