Fianna Fáil leader Mícheál Martin has launched a strong attack on Health Minister James Reilly at his party's meeting ahead of the new Dáil session.
He accused him of running a deeply cynical campaign on health in last year’s General Election and failing to deliver on a range of promises since then.
Mr Martin told his parliamentary party that Mr Reilly had told the electorate that waiting lists would come down, prescriptions would be cheaper and that free GP care was on the way.
He said that 18 months on no progress had been made in any of these areas.
Mr Martin also claimed the minister had insisted that he had enough money to meet his commitments before embarking on a round of "mean-spirited" emergency cuts.
Fianna Fáil is to table a motion of no confidence in the minister when the Dáil resumes tomorrow.
Mr Martin told TDs and Senators that no matter what happened in that debate the party would continue to put pressure on the minister.
Fianna Fáil also heard presentations on the economy and social welfare issues in Sutton in Dublin.
Mr Martin also said it is not clear whether the Government had worked out the timeline for the children’s referendum.
He said the Government had to make a judgment call on whether enough time remained to get information out to the public ahead of the expected polling day.
The party, which is expected to back the measure, has appointed former minister Barry Andrews as director of elections for the campaign.
Elsewhere, Sinn Féin is also meeting ahead of tomorrow's resumption of the Dáil.
Gerry Adams said his party is to bring forward proposals to ensure that December's Budget is fair.
The Sinn Féin leader said the party will be stepping up its campaign against the property tax, which he said was unfair.
He also said the Government could not continue with the "savage cuts" it was implementing.
