Finian McGrath Withdraws Support For Government

[goosebump]

The deal was definitely a good one for the IMO but not for the public in general. Do you not agree that having negotiated this deal that Reilly is now compromised on this issue? I find it strange that he can casually dismiss this issue saying he was just trying to get the best deal he could for doctors. If it were a construction company trying get as much as they could for a public works contract the opposition would be screaming blue murder. Where did the best interest of the patient figure in the IMO demanding the €640 per patient? To be honest it seems that Reilly was gouging as much as he could as head of IMO on this scheme and now wants to have his cake and eat it in criticising when it turns out that the scheme is unsustainable at this cost.

Reilly not only negotiated the deal but also opposed its introduction.

What was it he said about giving 'medical cards to people who can afford Golf Club fees'?

Its seem odd that he would have had concerns about the public policy implications of the scheme and then sit down at a table and try and gouge the taxpayer for every cent he could get.

[Fr. Hank Tree]

The deal was definitely a good one for the IMO but not for the public in general. Do you not agree that having negotiated this deal that Reilly is now compromised on this issue? I find it strange that he can casually dismiss this issue saying he was just trying to get the best deal he could for doctors. If it were a construction company trying get as much as they could for a public works contract the opposition would be screaming blue murder. Where did the best interest of the patient figure in the IMO demanding the €640 per patient? To be honest it seems that Reilly was gouging as much as he could as head of IMO on this scheme and now wants to have his cake and eat it in criticising when it turns out that the scheme is unsustainable at this cost.

No, i don't believe he is compromised. He doesn't represent that body anymore, but rather has since become an elected representative and his allegiance and duty to the IMO ought be presumed severed. If that wasn't the case, you could say Enda Kenny was compromised by being a former teacher, Brian Cowen by being a former solicitor etc.

[Digout]

McGraths initial reaction is not good, reckons its more hassle than its worth.

[badboy2]

Reilly not only negotiated the deal but also opposed its introduction.

What was it he said about giving 'medical cards to people who can afford Golf Club fees'?

Its seem odd that he would have had concerns about the public policy implications of the scheme and then sit down at a table and try and gouge the taxpayer for every cent he could get.

I would have assumed that it was the job of the department of health to represent the needs of the patients.

I would have assumed it was the role of the IMO to represent doctors interests.

Would you expect someone to compromise their integrity and duty of care to their members in order to protect the other negotiating party from their own incompetence?

Was this the strategy used to negotiate Lisbon. Cowen didn't have a clue but sure wouldn't everyone else look after us anyhow.

This mess is of FF's making. Any attempt to blame Reilly because has the temerity to not be incompetent just shows how useless FF really are.

[adrem]

I would have assumed that it was the job of the department of health to represent the needs of the patients.

I would have assumed it was the role of the IMO to represent doctors interests.

Would you expect someone to compromise their integrity and duty of care to their members in order to protect the other negotiating party from their own incompetence?

Was this the strategy used to negotiate Lisbon. Cowen didn't have a clue but sure wouldn't everyone else look after us anyhow.

This mess is of FF's making. Any attempt to blame Reilly because has the temerity to not be incompetent just shows how useless FF really are.

Not fully true - although I agree with a lot of the sentiment. I think O'Reilly, in adopting a Mè Fèin approach in the IMO negotiations HAS reduced the extent to which he can be taken seriously on this issue. The IMO fought hard (and he led the fight) against universality and they fought hard (and he again led the fight) to get the ridiculously high per capita payment to doctors. If he was an external consultant then he was just doing his job BUT he wasn't. He was and is a doctor - something he regularly relies on and reminds us of when he is contributing to the wider health debate. As a doctor and in representing doctors he conveyed his personal and professional opinion that universality of the Card was a bad idea and that doctors should get the extortionate payment that they negotiated. He cannot now pretend that he never actually believed that - he would have been much better served had his advisors encouraged him to stick by his real belief - that universality is bad. But highlight the fact that having given it, it is unfair to try and take it back.

I caveat all the above with the following - James Reilly did not suggest a universal medical card, he did not promise it and he did not implement it. Neither did he make an unholy balls out of it's removal - all of these were done by FF/PD and latterly Green parties. So whilst I DO think Reilly is SERIOUSLY compromised and SERIOUSLY mistaken in his decision to try to pretend that his previous position doesn't matter now - I accept fully that it was FF that caused this mess, not James Reilly.