The Health Minister has admitted that an earlier claim that a site for a primary care centre in his constituency was selected a year before he became minister was incorrect.
James Reilly is currently facing a grilling in the Dáil as controversy rolls on following the resignation last week of Junior Minister Roisin Shortall.
The Taoiseach earlier gave his absolute backing to Dr. Reilly despite a revelation that the Minister has political ties to the owner of one of the sites in Balbriggan.
The Irish Independent revealed that the primary care centre in Balbriggan promoted by the Minister is to be built on lands owned by Fine Gael supporter Seamus Murphy.
Fianna Fail said earlier in the Dáil it is concerned that health needs are being decided based on political ties rather than need.
The opposition used Dáil privilege to say the Minister has now conferred commercial and financial advantage on someone.
Meanwhile a number of Labour party figures have said James Reilly should no longer be the Minister for Health.
The Ireland South MEP Phil Prendergast has used her Twitter account to say Dr. Reilly should consider his position while the Ireland East MEP Neasa Childers says the story in the Irish Independent today means his position is untenable.
In the Dáil this afternoon Minister Reilly has been outlining the criteria used for the selection of which primary care centres would be built.
And he has now admitted that an earlier claim the Health Service Executive (HSE) had selected this site before he was Minister was wrong.
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