Harney will not pull out of cabinet ‘if I can affect policy’

HEALTH Minister Mary Harney said she will not pull out of government as long she can influence policy.

But she said the two former Progressive Democrats in the Dáil could not commit to the Programme for Government until the outcome of the imminent review between Fianna Fáil and the Green Party.

Ms Harney said neither she nor former PD Noel Grealish will negotiate sweetheart packages for their constituencies as has been done by other independents, Jackie Healy-Rae and Michael Lowry.

“I don’t want to talk in terms of deals .... We approach this very much from a national perspective and clearly the national interest has to be put first and in particular the economic interest,” she said.

Despite the demise of the PDs both she and Mr Grealish could destabilise the Government – as evidenced by yesterday’s 85 to 79 confidence vote.

She did not see the ex-PDs as having a veto, but indicated herself and Mr Grealish would work together.

“Clearly to remain in government one has be able to agree with the Government’s platform through the Programme for Government ... one shouldn’t be in office if one hasn’t got an influence in relation to the programme. In my own case economic issues are very important,” she said.

Ms Harney was speaking at one of the final functions for the PDs as it handed over its 25-year archive to University College Dublin.

She said the party had gone out of businesses without owing money and she expected it to complete all its affairs within the next month.

The gathering at the Newman centre on St Stephen’s Green celebrated the party’s colourful history and the fact that 25 former members had been elected to local authorities last week.

Founding member Des O’Malley said it was a sad day. “Ireland can now have two middle of the road, inoffensive, whatever you are having yourself, catch-all parties and I do not think Ireland is best served by two middle of the road, catch-all parties vying with each other,” he said.

Mr O’Malley said the party had been groundbreaking at achieving gender balance and breaking down socially conservative polices.

He said the established parties had structured funding rules to prevent the emergence of new groups and it was only rich individuals, such as Declan Ganley, who could find the resources to enter the system.

“I think this week we have seen the end of probably, or possibly, the last two political parties that will ever be founded in this country.

“The rules have been changed and they have been changed to suit the incumbents,” he said.