Sinn Fein’s health plans have vanished like Shergar, claims Taoiseach

SINN Fein’s plan for health spending in the Republic has “vanished like Shergar” from the party’s website, the Taoiseach said yesterday.

Simon Harris was responding after the party took aim at his government’s performance.

He said Sinn Fein’s spending plan had disappeared from its website because it added up €500m less than his government’s commitment.

But Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou Mcdonald said the policy was “very much on the website” and accused Mr Harris of engaging in “distraction” tactics.

Ms Mcdonald had earlier challenged Mr Harris, a former minister for health, on his promise to reduce waiting times for scoliosis patients to four months.

She pointed out that the 250,000 cancellations for appointments and scheduled treatments last was a new record.

Mr Harris said the health service had the money to hire 2,200 additional hospital staff, with another 800 in the community and disability sector.

He accepted that more beds were needed in the health service but claimed 1,100 had been added since the last general election and that there was funding for another 1,500.

The Taoiseach also pointed to significant improvements in cancer survival rates, increasing by 14% for men and 13% for women, both above the European average of 10%.

Mr Harris said: “To any parent of a sick child, and particularly one with cancer, I want them to know [those figures].”

Shergar, regarded as one of the best racehorses of its time, was stolen by an armed gang on February 8, 1983.

It was never seen again after negotiations over a ransom broke down.

The IRA was blamed for the incident but has never admitted responsibility.