You’ve seen good and bad days, Mary. Now it’s time to say goodbye

MARY HARNEY has had a long political career. Appointed by Jack Lynch to the Seanad 32 years ago, she has been one of the most formidable woman politicians in the State. As a former party leader, first female Tánaiste and minister over three decades she has made a significant contribution. The time has come for her to offer her resignation as part of an autumn reshuffle of senior ministers.

Mary Harney’s “best before” date was in 2006 when she stepped down as leader of the Progressive Democrats. Her “sell by” date was April 2008 when Bertie Ahern retired as Taoiseach. Her “use by” date is September 2009 when she will have spent precisely five years as minister for health. The case for her retirement is not based on any current specific issue. I support her stance on IPU fees and the national cancer strategy.

Last week’s decision by Fianna Fáil back benchers Jimmy Devins and Eamon Scanlon to resign the party whip highlights Cowen’s dilemma with her continuation in Health. This department is acutely politically sensitive. Local constituency health issues are emotive, volatile and can cost votes. Fianna Fáil needs to have this office-holder within its own parliamentary party.

This facilitates daily dialogue with backbenchers, immediacy of contact — a sense of political mutual loyalty and belonging.

In 2007, this Government comprised a three-party coalition of FF, Greens and PDs. The demise and formal winding up of the PDs created a new situation. On a recent visit to Galway, I learned of Noel Grealish’s deep links and mutual affinity with FF.

Eamon O’Cuiv is more comfortable with him as a constituency colleague than Frank Fahey. Grealish will return to the FF fold. Harney has refused to rejoin FF. Thus, she has no mandate and is unrepresentative.

An important public service reform has been the limit of seven years’ tenure for senior administrative posts (eg, departmental secretary generals and local authority county managers).

This welcome innovation facilitates a defined period of maximum personal contribution, while allowing medium-term reform and change of direction. Public leadership is defined by a period of time. Harney has been a senior member of the cabinet since 1997. The general election of that year propelled her and Bertie Ahern into a sustained period of FF/PD government. Twelve consecutive years at the highest level in politics takes its toll. Ministerial life is abnormal — it is lived through a bubble and goldfish bowl. There is a gross unreality to being driven everywhere. Your private secretary takes control of virtually every aspect of your life — diary, travel arrangements, credit card usage and organisation of your lifestyle.

Your spindoctor filters media contact. Access to you is controlled. Ministers become “institutionalised”. Eventually they can lose touch and become subconsciously unaware, aloof and arrogant.

Where are Harney’s original peers? The PDs were formed in December 1985. Des O’Malley and Bobbie Molloy have long since retired. Michael McDowell and Pat Cox are successfully pursuing other interests. In Government, Harney was part of a powerful triumvirate along with Bertie Ahern and Charlie McCreevy. She is the sole survivor of this clique. Her cohort has already departed.

The Department of Health was described by Brian Cowen as “Angola” because it is littered with explosive minefields. The politics of Health is impossible. The sad fact is, as patients, we all die sooner or later. Increased life expectancy and advances in medical research mean that the financial demands on health resources are limitless. As our demographic age profile increases much greater care requirements will be needed for elderly patients in their 80s and 90s. Any minister for health is ultimately in a no-win situation.

Harney has had her fair share of controversies. Hospital colocation has been the most controversial policy ... the Irish Nurses’ Organisation unanimously passed a motion of no confidence in her in 2006 ... risk equalisation policies in the healthcare insurance market have been legally defective and challenged ... contract reform of hospital consultants was protracted with dubious benefits ... excessive HSE bureaucracy pervades, with additional administrators on top of the previous health board personnel ... A&E services and hospital waiting lists have been a constant source of criticism.

Harney has initiated significant reforms. The establishment of the independent health safety body, HIQA ... the fair deal nursing home scheme and the extended operation of the national treatment purchase fund.

Overall she has made a noteworthy contribution. Everyone will have their own pet criticisms. My own would be the debacle over the cervical cancer vaccine for young girls — a stop-start fiasco.

If you stay around long enough in the one position in politics, you will accumulate a lot of enemies. Harney has not lacked for courage or shirked conflict. Like all warriors, eventually the scars of battle take their toll. Too many health commentators, professionals and leaders want rid of her. Maurice Nelligan and John Crown are among her most outspoken critics. The energy, zest and enthusiasm required to be a top ministerial performer cannot be sustained indefinitely.

It is repeatedly asserted that Harney should stay in Health because no one else wants the job. This is rubbish. Noel Dempsey would make an ideal health minister. He has vast departmental and ministerial experience. He has a safe seat. He is courageous to the point of being stubborn, so he would not avoid tackling vested interests. FF can easily find within their ranks a replacement for Harney.

I FIRMLY believe politicians who are not standing in the next general election have a duty to consider their continued ministerial role. They are disconnected from compatibility with fellow TDs who have to face the public vote again. It is a long, long time since Mary Harney was junior minister in Environment with Pádraig Flynn in 1989, when she effectively confronted city smog. Her period as Minister for Trade and Enterprise from 1997 to 2004 most epitomised her political convictions and outlook. Her “Boston rather than Berlin” mantra reflected her private sector entrepreneurial political ethos. She was always the “heartbeat” of the PDs, as a conviction politician.

Enoch Powell said “all political careers ultimately end in failure”. The tragedy of Harney’s 12-year tenure at the top of government has been the contradiction between her rhetoric and outcomes. This year the state will have its largest ever current budget deficit of €21bn. The PD central policy plank was fiscal discipline and order in the public finances.

Her “less government — less taxation” philosophy has been overshadowed by the largest ever growth in public service personnel and an explosion of quangos over the last decade. Her espousal of value for money contrasts with her oversight of the profligate junketeering at FÁS. She has not implemented what she has preached.

She would make a credible EU Commissioner. Cowen won’t risk the likely Dublin West by-election loss. She and her husband, Brian Geoghegan, should now start planning for a life beyond politics. At 56, she has done her bit over the past one-third of a century. Better to do the honourable thing now rather than face the ultimate ignominy of being shafted. The time has come to say goodbye.