The Taoiseach has expressed confidence in Minister for Health Dr James Reilly in the lead-up to the anticipated Cabinet reshuffle.

Enda Kenny expressed his support for the Minister in the Dáil today, "in respect of confidence in being able to sort this out". He was replying to Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin, who asked whether he still had confidence in the Minister's capacity to manage the health services.

Mr Kenny refused to be drawn on the revelation in today's Irish Times that the head of the Department of Health had withdrawn a letter he sent to the head of the Health Service Executive (HSE) following a row over pay for entry-grade consultants.

Mr Martin, who raised the matter, said the department's secretary general was "no doubt doing the bidding of the Minister for Health''.

Mr Kenny said that in areas as significant as the Department of Health and the HSE, there were always going to be opportunities where differences of opinion arose.

“Clearly, I have no idea how letters between the secretary general of the Department of Health and the chief executive of the HSE find their way into the public domain,’’ he added.

Mr Martin also referred to an article in today’s Irish Times by Donal O’Shea, consultant endocrinologist, describing the halting of obesity surgery at St Vincent’s Hospital, Dublin, as an “act of stupidity’’. The decision, said Mr Martin, would cost lives.

Mr Kenny said he had read the article, adding that he understood that surgery was necessary in a number of cases. “My understanding is that there was an allocation made for 20 such operations this year and that has been gone through,’’ he added.