Health Minister Mary Harney and consultant orthopaedic surgeon Peter O'Rourke of Letterkenny General Hospital are in dispute over how to respond to necessary budget restraints. Peter O'Rourke has said that he has virtually no work to do since elective joint replacements have been cancelled due to budgetary cuts although he continues to be paid €225k annually.

Mary Harney, on the other hand, has urged the surgeon to “look at solutions” rather than “always identifying problems”. The Minister pointed out that there are waiting lists in outpatients at the hospital which Mr O'Rourke could help alleviate, while he in turn has said that running extra clinics would require nurses and administrative staff that the hospital cannot afford.

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