John Halligan says he may have no option but to resign from government - after claiming Fine Gael is backing out of the Programme for Government.

The junior education minister says he was promised 24-hour cardiac services for Waterford by two senior ministers during government talks.

He claims that both Simon Coveney and Michael Noonan promised a 24-hour service during negotiations leading up to the formation of the government - with one insisting the independent clinical review was "a formality".

Halligan now says that unless local consultants are happy with a compromise measure, he will have to resign from government.

Health minister Simon Harris says he's prepared to consider extending hours at the existing cath lab at University Hospital Waterford, but insists he cannot authorise a second lab (which would be needed to provide 24-hour services) against clinical advice.

He has committed to publishing the independent review by consultant cardiologist Dr Niall Herity this afternoon.

Our political correspondent Gavan Reilly filed this report for Today FM's National Lunchtime News: