Harney could be painting herself into a corner with the sudden entrance of HSE ‘exit schemes’

IT came with little warning, landed with a bang and made a right mess.

No, not the paint ball that turned Health Minister Mary Harney several shades of red yesterday but the “exit schemes” she chose to announce for HSE workers the same day.

Those who saw her pictured shortly afterwards at a sod-turning ceremony wielding a shovel with red droplets running down her fingers may have worried that she was taking the drive to axe staff a little too literally.