Taoiseach steps in to defend Minister amid X-ray fallout

THE TAOISEACH defended the Minister for Health against Opposition criticism in sharp exchanges over the failure to review X-rays at Tallaght hospital.

Brian Cowen said that Mary Harney had his confidence.

“She has been a reforming Minister for Health and Children and has brought about more changes for the reform of the health sector than any of her predecessors,’’ he added.

“She has been absolutely committed to bringing forward quality assurance mechanisms in the system so that we have accountability and can deal with any issues that arise.’’ Mr Cowen was replying to Labour leader Eamon Gilmore who asked if the Taoiseach intended leaving Ms Harney in her ministry.

“He is apparently considering a reshuffle of his Cabinet. Some time ago, my party tabled a motion of no confidence in the Minister arising from some of these earlier incidents,’’ he added.

“I have a lot of time for the Minister – she has been a very competent Minister in other ways — but she has been a hopeless Minister for Health and it is time she was moved.’’ Mr Cowen said that Labour party members could scoff as much as they wished but the objective facts would show the improvements for patients.

The aim, he said, was to provide a sustainable health system that would provide the best possible care “rather than assuaging every parochial interest that seems to raise its head’’.

Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny said that what had happened in Tallaght followed a long litany of incompetence and disaster presided over by the Government in the Department of Health and other departments.

He added: “Will the Minister come into the House today to answer questions about this? Is she in New Zealand a week before St Patrick’s Day? Is the Taoiseach satisfied that she took appropriate action when it was brought to her attention by the chief executive of Tallaght hospital last December and flagged by GPs last summer?’’

Mr Cowen said that Ms Harney was on Government business in New Zealand, adding that the “St Patrick’s Day issues arise this weekend in New Zealand, rather than on St Patrick’s Day itself’’.

Mr Kenny asked the Taoiseach for the Minister’s list of engagements dealing with Enterprise Ireland and the creation of jobs in the Republic during her trip abroad.

“I take his point about Ministers going abroad to deal with job creation for our country,’’ he added.

Mr Kenny asked if the Taoiseach was happy with the Minister and the action she took. “Obviously, he cannot move her from the Cabinet because he cannot rely on her vote,’’ he added.

“This is a national catastrophe and is the best example of abject and blatant failure by the Taoiseach’s Government and his Ministers.’’ Mr Cowen replied that he totally refuted the approach Mr Kenny was taking.

When Mr Cowen said he did not have the full information available to him, Labour’s Ruairí Quinn remarked: “In New Zealand.’’ When Mr Cowen said that was “a cheap jibe’’.Mr Quinn replied: “Not any more.’’ Mr Cowen said that “it is the usual cheap jibe from him and it ill-becomes him’’.

Later, during a series of special notice questions to Minister of State Barry Andrews, Sinn Fein’s Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin said Ms Harney needed to explain her role.

“Does she believe that acting in the interest of patients by the Minister for Health equates to meddling, as she claimed on Morning Ireland?,’’ he said. “I find that absolutely outrageous.’’