Minister should resign ‘because she is responsible’

HEALTH Minister Mary Harney should resign because she bears ultimate responsibility for the appalling treatment meted out to more than 600 women in the midlands, the Labour Party said last night.

Opening the debate on the motion of no confidence in the minister, Labour’s health spokeswoman Jan O’Sullivan said if political accountability is to mean anything then Ms Harney must accept responsibility.

And in a forceful speech, Fine Gael health spokesman Dr James Reilly alleged Ms Harney only displayed raw emotion about the breast cancer scandal when her job was on the line.

Ms Harney sustained a barrage of angry criticism from Dr Reilly and from other opposition speakers, including Joan Burton and Kathleen Lynch of Labour, Sinn Féin’s Dáil leader Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin, and Olwyn Enright and Charlie Flanagan of Fine Gael, the latter who accused the Government of starving Portlaoise of resources.

Ms O’Sullivan accused Ms Harney of setting up a system (the HSE) that has become so focused on itself rather than on the patient.

“Incredibly it told the Oireachtas Health Committee before it told the women themselves that they — 97 human beings who had been told they were clear of cancer — had to be recalled,” she said.

“How could it have happened that, 24 hours later, when the minister and the nation knew, those women had still not got a phone call?

“She is the minister. The most basic lines of communication and accountability were not functioning.” The Limerick deputy attacked the ideologically driven PDs and asked searching questions about the non-appearance of promised reports.

In a sustained and forceful speech, Dr Reilly baited the minister for the emotional nature of her own speech.

“We have seen raw emotion. It’s the first time that I have seen the minister speak without written notes and full of eloquence.

“Why does it take for the minister’s job to be on the line to show such emotion?” he asked.

Dr Reilly mocked Ms Harney’s contention that she had acted speedily and robustly and again alleged she should have known in July 2005 when a consultant, Dr Peter Naughton, wrote to her describing the mammography services in Portlaoise as a “shambles”.

“We have seen the horrible result of your idea of thoroughness and robustness. Nine women with breast cancer who were failed by the State and by you through your inaction,” he said

Sinn Féin’s Mr Ó Caoláin had a special message for government TDs who also cultivate local stances: “You can no longer get away with one message for your constituents and another message for the Government you support. It is time to put up or shut up.”