Harney refuses to quit over cancer crisis

AN emotional Mary Harney last night declared: “Quitting is a shortcut to failure, and I don’t accept failure.”

In a Dáil speech lasting 24 minutes, the Health Minister rejected opposition calls to resign and said she would leave “no stone unturned” to ensure the national cancer strategy became a reality “sooner rather than later”.

At times combative, at times her voice appearing on the verge of cracking, Ms Harney said she could not be blamed for the misdiagnoses of patients.