Harney criticised for not attending health debates

MINISTER FOR Health Mary Harney came under fire for her failure to turn up in the Dáil this month for 15 adjournment debates that dealt with health issues.

Labour Party whip Emmet Stagg said that during May 34 adjournment debates were raised and a Cabinet Minister turned up on only one occasion – Tánaiste Mary Coughlan – “who attended because the subject pertained to job losses in her own constituency”, he claimed.

But Ms Harney said that “there has been a refusal to agree to serious Dáil reform for several years”, and it was a matter for all parties.

Adjournment debates are dealt with at the close of Dáil business when individual TDs can raise topical issues and receive a reply from a Cabinet Minister, or a Minister of State on their behalf.

Mr Stagg said that two-thirds of the 34 debates in May “have been taken by two of the most junior ministers in the House”.

Fifteen debates were taken by “one very junior Minister of State, Deputy Áine Brady, and many of the debates did not relate to her area of responsibility. A further seven were taken by another Minister of State, Deputy Dara Calleary.”

Both Ministers were appointed when Taoiseach Brian Cowen reduced the number of junior ministers from 20 to 15. Mr Stagg said the Taoiseach had previously stated that “every Minister should seek, as a matter of courtesy, to be present in the House when a matter relevant to his or her department is being taken”. But “even though 15 adjournment debates were on health, the Minister for Health and Children never turned up in the house at all”.

Mr Stagg said that despite the “heroic efforts” of the Ceann Comhairle to kick-start Dáil reform, “matters are regressing at a rapid rate”. Those interested in Dáil reform were told “that a special committee comprised of Fianna Fáil and Green Party members would tell them what the Dáil reforms would be”, Mr Stagg claimed.

But Ms Harney insisted that “it is a matter for all the parties, and not a single party, to agree to Dáil reform”.

Earlier, Labour deputy leader Joan Burton disputed the decision to adjourn the Dáil for the final week of the election campaign and warned that the Labour Party would not support a motion for the Dáil to adjourn on July 2nd for the summer.

Minister for Transport Noel Dempsey said that “it will be a short summer break”.