Harney won't cut holidays for EU meeting

HEALTH Minister Mary Harney will not break off her 18-day holiday in South Africa to attend an emergency European Union meeting on the Asian crisis.

A junior minister with three months experience of government will instead attend the conference, organised to co-ordinate the EU response to the devastating aftermath of the tsunami.

One opposition politician said it wasn't fair on Minister of State Sean Power, who had no previous experience of health issues before joining the department last September.