‘I was there working, not on holiday’

HEALTH Minister Mary Harney has defended the expenses she incurred while on a trip to the US organised by Fás.

Controversy has arisen because Ms Harney was partially responsible for a $410 bill from a Florida beauty salon which was charged to a Fás credit card.

In addition, the Government jet was used for the 2004 trip, which has raised questions in some quarters.

But Ms Harney robustly defended the trip yesterday, and insisted she had never used taxpayers’ money for personal purposes.

“I went as tánaiste [and] minister for enterprise, trade and employment.

“I led that delegation, I was there working, I was not on a holiday,” she said.

The minister admitted earlier this week that she was partially responsible for the $410 bill, but said this was legitimately incurred for standard “wash and blow dries” in preparation for official engagements.

“I don’t use taxpayers’ money for personal grooming, I can tell you that.

“When I’m on personal business, I look after my own personal affairs, but clearly, if I’m on official business — and I stress official business — clearly those official expenses are paid.

“And any personal expenses I would have on official business would never be claimed.”

She added: “I didn’t claim everything I was entitled to either.”

Ms Harney said the then taoiseach, Bertie Ahern, had sanctioned the use of the Government jet in line with standard practice.

“The decision on the Government jet is made by the Taoiseach on the basis of an application from a department headed by a minister,” she said. “That is a fact. And can I just say this: I was not on a holiday. I was there working for those days and that is a fact.”

Asked if her husband, Brian Geoghegan had questions to answer about the expenses culture that prevailed during his time at Fás, Ms Harney said: “I don’t want to answer questions about my husband because I don’t think it’s appropriate quite honestly.”

She defended the past and current board of Fás.

“I think it would be unfair to suggest that there were things that they could have done that they didn’t do,” said Ms Harney.

The Fás board met in Dublin yesterday to prepare a report for the current Tánaiste and Enterprise Minister, Mary Coughlan, on the ongoing controversy.

Ms Coughlan will bring the report to cabinet next Tuesday.

Ms Harney said there are matters that are being examined by the [Dáil] public accounts committee.

“I support that investigation, and I got information myself sent anonymously — I brought it to the attention of the authorities in Fás and asked them to have it investigated, and that subsequently has led now to a Garda investigation.”