Hanafin backs fellow minister Harney over FÁS hairdo issue

Minister Mary Hanafin has said that she doesn't feel the controversy over the Mary Harney's wash and blow dry will have any personal consequences for the Health Minister.

It emerged last night that FÁS paid the bill for a hair appointment for the then Enterprise Minister, while she was on a business trip with the state agency in Florida in 2004.

Mary Hanafin said today that Minister Harney is embarrassed by the controversy:

“I think it’s a bit unfortunate that the small amount of money that has probably been paid for a hairdo has been caught up in a bigger bill, and there are questions obviously about that bigger bill and how that came about,” she said.

“And it shouldn’t take from the serious issue that is the amount of expenses that were being run up by FÁS.”