Leo Varadkar not tackling HSE disfunction

Mary Harney’s legacy of her years as an effective politician and minister will forever be tarnished by her years as the Minister of Health and the driver of the HSE.

Her legacy is an organisation that cannot be described as fit for purpose. Sure, many parts of it appear to work pretty well but that is down to conscientious and professional staff. As an entity, it has been one huge and massively expensive disappointment.

Her successors as minister have not fared any better and that includes the current minister, Leo Varadkar, who appears to be at the helm but not in charge. Indeed, his job would appear to be, as Fine Gael poster boy and possible future leader, to ensure that a lid is kept on the department and its profile stays low.