More than eight out of 10 people believe James Reilly has performed poorly to date as Minister for Health, according to our latest online poll.

We asked site visitors how they rated the performance of Dr Reilly, who has now been Minister for two-and-a-half years.

Only 3% rated his performance as 'good', while 14% gave him a 'fair' rating.

A massive 83%, however, rated the Minister's performance as poor'.

The Minister's ratings have dropped considerably since an irishhealth.com online poll in March 2012, one year into his term of office.

In that poll, 21% of participants gave him a 'good' rating, 25% rated him as 'fair' and 54% gave him a 'poor' rating.

The Minister has been embroiled in a number of controversies since he got the job in March 2011, the most notable of which was the row over the selection of primary care centres and the resignation of junior minister Roisin Shortall last year.

One of his more successful policies - his waiting list initiative - did bear fruit for a time last year as waiting lists reduced considerably, However, list numbers are on the increase again.

ED trolley numbers have decreased on his watch; however, the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation has claimed that trolley numbers have been reduced by crowding additional patients onto wards.

Other policy slip-ups on Dr Reilly's watch have included the long delay in initiating the promised free GP care scheme.

The Minister has in fact, increased the cost of GP care for many. He promised to abolish the prescription charge for medical card patients, then trebled the charge.

More recently, Minister Reilly been criticised for failing to control the HSE budget for the second year running.

The HSE had to be bailed out with a €360 million additional grant in 2012, with the Minister coming under fire for failing to introduce promised initiatives to save money and generate income.

Again this year, the HSE is running up a sizable deficit, although as yet not to the extent of last year's overrun. Again, the Minister is being criticised for targeting savings and income generation measures which have yet to materialise, with the result that services may have to be cut to tackle the deficit.

Planned cuts to GP and other health professional fees were delayed; a new charging system for private patients in public hospitals has been postponed until next year, and the expected health payroll savings under the Haddington Road deal is not expected to materialise fully.

Dr Reilly has also hit the headlines over his personal financial difficulties. In addition, the extent of his role as a senior IMO figure in financial decision-making in that organisation nearly a decade ago has come under the spotlight, following the controversy over the remuneration of the IMO's ex-Chief Executive.

There are frequent reports in the media of Dr Reilly clashing with Labour ministers, although there are distinct signs of probably Labour-inspired 'negative briefing' against Minister Reilly. The reason being, his critics would say, that there is such a lot to be negative about.

However, the Minister has to date not been very adept or articulate in countering criticism.

Despite the many brickbats, Minster Reilly has had some success on the public health front in trying to push through tough anti-smoking, anti-alcohol abuse and anti-obesity measures, and did help to to steer through the abortion legislation.

James Reilly's imminent demise was predicted nearly a year ago in the midst of the primary care centre/Roisin Shortall controversy.

Whatever he is deemed to be good or bad in terms of being Health Minister, he is definitely an expert at political survival.