THE TAOISEACH has rejected a claim that he should consider sacking the Minister for Health because she had allegedly blamed nurses and doctors for hospital cutbacks.

Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny said that Mary Harney had remarked, during Tuesday’s debate on his party’s Private Members’ motion to reverse the budgetary cuts at Dublin’s Crumlin hospital, that it was strange “that when we ask hospitals to make efficiency savings, some hospitals decide that the most sensitive area is the one that must be cut first”.

Mr Kenny claimed that the Minister’s statement “amounts to an outrageous attack on the doctors and nurses who keep this element of our health service ticking over”.

He added: “As the Taoiseach is well aware from his visits to Crumlin hospital, parents who go through its doors are not looking for a manager or Prof Drumm, but a doctor or nurse to treat their sick children.

“This is probably the most emotive and sensitive aspect of health. I have visited the hospital many times.

“The children there have cancer, holes in their hearts, curved spines and so on. Their problems are the most sensitive.

“Does the Taoiseach believe and accept the Minister’s statement last night that doctors and nurses are effectively victimising children with serious illnesses in the interests of saving money?

“If he does not, will he ask her to withdraw her outrageous attack or remove her from her position?”

Brian Cowen said that Ms Harney was not saying that at all.

She was making the point, he said, that, before last Monday evening, it was being suggested that it would be necessary to close theatres and wards.

He added: “That would be the job of the board of management and the management of the hospital.

“The board met on Monday evening and, thankfully, was in a position, with no changes to the budgetary arrangements, to make a decision that ensures that this, in fact, will not be the case.”

Mr Cowen said that the Minister was simply trying to outline what an excellent service was being provided by the hospital.

“A reputation has been hard won and built up over many years,” said Mr Cowen.

“In the context of finite budgets, even in the context of this year’s budget of a 3 per cent reduction compared to last year, there is an increased level of activity in Crumlin hospital, which itself is conformation that, through more efficiencies and more effective management of the resources, it is possible to increase throughput and output without generating the need for extra resources per se,” he said.

Later, during the resumed Private Members’ debate, Labour’s Mary Upton claimed that the real agenda behind the closing of wards in Crumlin hospital was ideological.

“It is a skewed logic which believes that the case for the centralisation of paediatric care in Dublin will be strengthened by running down the quality of service offered within Crumlin hospital,” he added.

Sinn Féin’s Dáil leader Caoimhghin Ó Caolain said that it was shameful that the Government, in the name of the Oireachtas elected by the people, had been responsible for such a betrayal of children.

“It is shameful that parents must shake collection tins to send their children abroad for vital operations that can and should be provided by the excellent staff of our public health services,” he added.

Mr Ó Caolain referred to taxpayers’ money “being poured into the corrupt financial institutions”.

A Government amendment to the motion, endorsing its policy, was carried by 72 votes to 67.