Labour accuses Harney of adopting Thatcher style

LABOUR health spokesperson Jan O’Sullivan yesterday accused Health Minister Mary Harney of adopting a Margaret Thatcher style which puts people into corners.

Ms O’Sullivan said Ms Harney’s “dictatorial style” of management was a major factor in causing the recent strike with the Irish Pharmacy Union (IPU).

She said the stand off between the IPU and the HSE could have been avoided if the minister had adopted a less confrontational attitude towards pharmacists. “The pharmacists were always willing to talk, but it was the minister who said it would have to be her way. Basically it shouldn’t have been allowed reach such a stand-off position to begin with. It appears talks have been taking place behind the scenes since, and that is encouraging because it would seem to show a long-term resolution is possible.”

The Labour frontbencher said Ms Harney’s personality was making it difficult for third parties to agree to changes in healthcare policy. She added: “I don’t think it’s an accident that the resignation of four Fianna Fáil TDs from the party whip has all been in relation to health matters.

“An awful lot of it is to do with how Mary Harney does her business. She has a dictatorial style, a Maggie Thatcher-type style, which puts people into corners. People would rather give up the whip than accept her positions. In my eyes she has lost total interest in the job. She hides behind the HSE and doesn’t want to engage with people.”