Tension mounts on primary care issue

Tensions are mounting this week between local politicians on the primary care issue as two senior polticians lashed out at each other in a verbal exchange that shocked and embarassed some of their colleagues at a meeting with the HSE last Friday, where they were given a presentation on status of the project by HSE Regional Manager Joe Ruane. Deputy Mary O"Rourke and Cllr Kevin "Boxer" Moran were involved in a heated verbal exchange at last Friday afternoon"s meeting as tensions rose and opinions differed on progress of the centre. Commenting on the matter yesterday (Tuesday) afternoon Deputy O"Rourke said: 'I accept that both Boxer and I were worked up about the non-appearance of the GPs in the centre.' Cllr Moran said: 'What went on behind closed doors should stay behind closed doors, but there were nine or ten other people in the room and it will come to light what was said in the next few weeks.' Some other public representatives present said they were embarassed about the exchange, which took place in the presence of HSE officials who were there to brief them on the project. One politician described the incident as outrageous, childish and embarassing, while another was also embarassed by the exchange. Another said the two Fianna Fáil politicians had "a good go" at each other during the meeting with insults flying and said the incident wasn"t nice and shouldn"t have happened. But Deputy O"Rourke was not the only one to lash out at her party colleague this week, with Independent Councillor Austin Berry criticising "Boxer" for defending the HSE and said Cllr Moran should resign from the HSE committee or forum he was involved in in the same way that he had stepped down from the Dean Crowe Theatre Board of Management when he didn"t agree with what was happening there. Cllr Berry said: 'He should step down off that committee and stand up for the public. He should get some principles and stand down. He defends them and it isn"t good enough. There"s nothing they deserve more than criticism.' Cllr Moran was unavailable for comment on the matter at the time of going to print.