Harney refuses to quit or return home early

HEALTH Minister Mary Harney insisted she will not resign but said it is up to the Taoiseach whether or not she stays on in office in a looming cabinet reshuffle.

As the crisis over unread X-rays and unopened GP referral letters at Tallaght Hospital continues, Ms Harney is defying calls from within Fianna Fáil to cut short her 15-day tour of New Zealand.

Speaking from Auckland she said: “I’m not going to resign. I’m here to do a job. Not withstanding the fact that I’m very far away, I’ve been totally in touch in relation to this issue.