Harney got no thanks for lone parent plan

THE announcement by Social and Family Affairs Minister Martin Cullen of efforts to help lone parents get into the workforce is a welcome attempt to break the cycle of poverty that affects thousands of children.

However, it was with some bemusement that I recalled, as a Dáil candidate in the 1997 general election, a press conference held by Mary Harney to introduce a policy which attempted to address the same issues.

For her efforts Ms Harney was excoriated in the media and no doubt this had a negative impact on the party’s campaign. I distinctly recall one journalist at that press conference (who was subsequently appointed to a paid position by Fianna Fáil) leading the charge vehemently in questioning Ms Harney’s supposedly right-wing attempts at social engineering.