Harney offers resignation to Taoiseach

Health Minister Mary Harney has offered to resign from the Cabinet, it emerged tonight.

The former Progressive Democrats leader also said she would not be contesting the next general election.

“I have reached my decision after considerable reflection and having taken into account the advice and constant support offered over many years by family, friends and colleagues,” she said.

“Accordingly I have offered my resignation as Minister for Health and Children to the Taoiseach Brian Cowen.”

A spokesman for the Dublin Mid West TD and former Tánaiste said she had indicated her intention to Mr Cowen on Tuesday last week.

But the Taoiseach had asked her to wait some time before she made her announcement public, he said.

The spokesman stressed that Ms Harney, an Independent in the coalition Government since the Progressive Democrats collapsed, had made up her mind before the heave against Mr Cowen in recent days.

The Taoiseach has said he would take over former foreign affairs minister Micheal Martin’s role after he resigned from the Cabinet last night when Mr Cowen won a vote of confidence from his ruling Fianna Fail party.

It is understood Ms Harney wrote a formal letter to the Taoiseach this afternoon again offering her resignation.

Her spokesman said she thought it was “the honourable thing” and “appropriate” to allow Mr Cowen to put someone else into the Health portfolio before the election.

She also decided she did not want to run as an Independent.