The Sinn Féin leader has accused the Minister of Health of a conflict of interest in a hospital group appointment.

Gerry Adams said it was not appropriate that "a major player in a private health consultancy firm, promoting the privatisation of health services", was appointed the chair of a major public health body by James Reilly.

Mr Adams said Dr Reilly had said in the Seanad an issue had arisen relating to a report on maternity services in the west and the northwest. The report, he added, had been carried out by a private consultancy firm, Health Partnership, also known as DNF Health Partnership, a company with a long record of promoting the privatisation of health services.

He told Minister for Finance Michael Noonan there were huge concerns that the report, if implemented, could result in the closure of maternity services.

“Is the Minister aware that the founder and 50 per cent shareholder of this private consultancy firm was appointed by Dr Reilly as chairperson of West-Northwest Hospitals Group, a major State public health body?”

Mr Noonan, who was taking Opposition leaders’ questions, said it was “a rather small country” and people had different roles to play at different times. “Sometimes there can be an appearance of conflict but, as I understand it, no conflict occurred in this case,” adding that he did not have an extensive brief on the matter.

“How can he decide that no conflict occurred,” Mr Adams asked, “when he has said that he has not been briefed on this matter?”