Smith should resign or be sacked

WHAT does it take to galvanise Taoiseach Bertie Ahern into decisive action?

His mealy-mouthed comments on Defence Minister Michael Smith’s solo run on the Hanly Report on health reform will heighten public unease over the Taoiseach’s lack of leadership.

Having signalled his intention to run in the next election, Mr Smith’s claim that he has no fear of a Cabinet reshuffle is seen as throwing down a gauntlet to the Taoiseach.

Already there are rumblings among backbenchers. The minister’s broadside on the threat to Nenagh hospital, prompted one disgruntled deputy to complain “there is no encouragement for any of the rest of us to stay in line now”.

The Hanly Report would transform major hospitals into centres of excellence and remove some services from local hospitals.

While the right of a TD to speak out on local issues is sacrosanct, there is a constitutional onus on ministers to honour the principle of collective Cabinet responsibility.

Clearly, Mr Smith’s disowning of the implementation of the Hanly Report flies in the face of that doctrine. He should either resign or be sacked.

Basically, the minister is courting local votes, bucking the concept of collective Cabinet responsibility and putting it up to an ineffectual Taoiseach who seems pathologically incapable of making hard decisions.