Kenny calls on Taoiseach to sack Harney

Health Minister Mary Harney should be sacked unless she withdraws an outrageous claim that doctors and nurses were victimising children through cutbacks, the Dáil heard today.

Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny demanded the Taoiseach take action over what he branded a direct attack on medics at Ireland’s largest children’s hospital.

During a heated debate on Our Lady’s Hospital for Sick Children in Crumlin, Dublin, Ms Harney suggested hospitals were making cutbacks in the most sensitive areas when asked to make savings.

Mr Kenny said the remarks were effectively an accusation that doctors and nurses were targeting sick children.

“Do you believe and accept the statement made by your Minister for Health last night that doctors and nurses are effectively victimising children with serious illness in the interests of saving money?” he asked Taoiseach Brian Cowen.

“And if you don’t believe that, will you ask the Minister for Health to withdraw that outrageous attack or remove her from her position?”

However, Mr Cowen defended his Health Minister, insisting she did not say what was being claimed.

The Taoiseach said Ms Harney was urging all hospital managers to be more efficient with their strained budgets.

During a debate last night in the Dáil, Ms Harney said: “I find it strange that when we ask hospitals to make efficiency savings, some hospitals decide that the most sensitive area is the area that should be cut first.”

The Taoiseach said the Health Minister was simply trying to outline the excellent service at the Crumlin hospital and the need for cost savings.

Mr Kenny said the blame for health service cutbacks could not be laid with doctors and nurses but were the fault of a bureaucratic monster created by Mr Cowen and Ms Harney.