Harney hints at possibility of quitting politics

MARY HARNEY last night gave the strongest hint yet she will quit frontline politics at the next election.

The health minister also made it clear she expects to stand down as PD leader early next year.

The health minister, 54, refused to be drawn on whether she intended to fight the next election, pointing out she had originally intended to quit politics when she turned 40.

“I haven’t made up my mind yet in relation to the next election. I’m not somebody who plans that far ahead. The next election is five years away and I am not going to make any decision now I may regret.”

The former tánaiste reluctantly resumed her post as leader on an interim basis after Michael McDowell made a surprise resignation announcement on election night after the PDs were reduced to two Dáil seats from their previous tally of eight.

The party is changing its rules to allow non-Oireachtas members to stand for the top post following its poor showing in the May poll.

Senator and former TD Fiona O’Malley remains frontrunner to take over from Ms Harney.

Ms Harney set down a marker of February at the latest for her standing down.

“I don’t want to rush anybody’s fences, but it is not my intention to hold the party leadership in the medium term. Sometime around Christmas I look forward to handing over to my successor as leader.

“I am only doing this as an interim arrangement after the election in order to facilitate the party’s deliberations on this matter, but my focus is on the Department of Health and Children and continuing to pursue the reform agenda and that is my sole focus over the next number of years,” she said.