Ahern backs Harney to stay in Health

TAOISEACH Bertie Ahern said he hopes Mary Harney will remain as Health Minister and in that event he will not reshuffle his Cabinet.

And speaking during a break at the EU-Asia summit in Helsinki, Mr Ahern accused Fine Gael of having wrecked the country every time they have been in government in the past.

The Taoiseach said he would have no difficulty working with Michael McDowell when he becomes PD leader today.

Mr McDowell had been his attorney general for two-and-a-half years and Justice Minister for four years.

“I have worked more closely with him over the past few years than I have with most of my own colleagues. I will have no difficulty working with him at all,” he said.

But he said Fianna Fáil would not change its decision to run on their own in the coming general election.

“My job is to maximise the vote,” he said.

At the summit in Helsinki, Mr Ahern said Romanian and Bulgarian workers would be admitted into Ireland, irrespective of what Britain decides.

The Taoiseach insisted Ireland would not have to follow Britain’s decision on allowing Bulgarian and Romanians working here when the countries join the EU, possibly in January.

The Scottish Executive has also announced it is making arrangements to admit Bulgarian and Romanian workers into its country even if England bans them.

Mr Ahern later attacked Fine Gael, accusing them of having wrecked the country every time they have been in power.

“They have a consistent record of running very bad economies. There was 19% unemployment when [Fianna Fáil] took over from them the first time and 11% the second time,” he said.

The Asia-Europe Summit aims to develop links between the two continents through trade and improve understanding between the individual countries. Finland currently holds the EU presidency.

Key themes of this summit will be multilateralism and addressing security threats and dialogue among cultures and civilisations.