Harney admits splits and calls for reforms

Tánaiste Mary Harney has admitted splits in coalition policy and warned of the need for reforms of aviation and healthcare services if the Government is to recover from its devastating election defeat.

Acknowledging the development of bitter splits between her Progressive Democrat party and coalition partner Fianna Fáil, she said it was now time to focus on pledges made two years ago.

“We lost the election there’s no doubt about that. We have to learn lessons from that and we have to reflect on why that happened and there are a number of lessons that we could all do with learning” she said.

Ms Harney said the last thing the country needed was incohesion and incoherence in Government.

“The last thing we need too, is for both parties to turn on each other,” she added. “We need some calm reflection.

“If we were to assume the Progressive Democrats didn’t do well because of Fianna Fáil or vice versa I think we would be missing the message of the election.”

The Tánaiste has emerged as one of the main players calling for the controversial break up of Aer Rianta as well as the introduction of a second terminal at Dublin airport – both fiercely opposed by the unions.

She has recently criticised the Government for failing to make key decisions which will implement change.

Ms Harney acknowledged that certain members of the two Government parties had turned on each other, but said that was to be expected from time to time.

“The reality is that we’ve worked well in Government over the past seven years but we must be focused now on implementing the policies that the people voted us in for two years ago,” she added.

Bitter splits between the coalition partners have emerged since last week’s election defeat.

Brendan Smith, Fianna Fail Cavan/Monaghan TD has reportedly called for less PD policy within Government while PD Justice Minister Michael McDowell was widely criticised at Fianna Fáil’s post-election parliamentary meeting.

Cork North Central TD Noel O’Flynn has suggested that Fianna Fáil consider ditching the PDs in favour of a minority Government.