Harney denies announcing 2,600 'phantom' jobs to win seats

TÁNAISTE Mary Harney last night rejected fresh accusations of announcing 2,600 "phantom" jobs to win seats for the Government before the last general election.

The number of jobs promised in key marginal constituencies before the general election, but which since failed to materialise, rose to almost 2,500 yesterday, as only 130 of the flagged posts have actually been delivered.

Yesterday, Cardinal Healthcare officially informed the IDA that it will definitely not be proceeding with a €100 million information technology and healthcare facility in Longford town. Almost four years ago, the Tánaiste announced the arrival of the 1,300 jobs and hailed the massive investment as the largest ever jobs boost for the Midlands region.

The PDs narrowly won a seat in Longford-Roscommon for the first time in 2002, by a margin of just 55 votes. But just months after the election, plans for the project were put on hold pending a review. Added to the 1,300 jobs announced on the infamous "Golden Thursday" just a month before the election which subsequently delivered just 130 jobs, Fine Gael enterprise spokesman Phil Hogan said a definite pattern has emerged.

He said it was remarkable that an increasing number of projects announced in the run-up to the election are now being delayed or cancelled. "As far as I am concerned, the pre-election job announcements by the Tánaiste in Longford, Limerick and Birr significantly contributed to three Dáil seats for the PDs," he said.

But the Tánaiste's spokesman said Ms Harney was disappointed by the withdrawal of Cardinal. "She rejects any suggestion that the timing of the announcements had anything to do with the general election. These things are determined by the companies themselves," the spokesman said.

The IDA said last night the 600 jobs in Churchill will be provided over a five-year period and the project was still on track.