MINISTER FOR Health Mary Harney is aware some Fianna Fáil figures want her portfolio to go to a Fianna Fáil Cabinet member but she enjoys the Taoiseach’s confidence, her spokesman has said.
He was responding to a Sunday newspaper report claiming unidentified Fianna Fáil representatives believed Ms Harney was considering returning to the party 25 years after helping to found the Progressive Democrats.
“The Minister is aware of the view held by some in Fianna Fáil that it would be attractive to them for the health portfolio to be held by someone in Fianna Fáil,” her spokesman said.
“That was the case before the reshuffle and before the Taoiseach saw fit to reappoint Mary Harney to her position as Health Minister while an Independent TD . . . She is an Independent TD and has been appointed Minister for Health for the fourth time because she enjoys the confidence of the Taoiseach.”
The spokesman said he could not comment on the reported thinking of Fianna Fáil figures, adding that what the Minister was considering were “the next steps in the ongoing reform of the health service”.
Asked if Ms Harney would contest the next general election, he said: “The next election could be up to two years away so the Minister is not under pressure to make decisions that apply to an election at this stage.”
In an interview with Pat Kenny on RTÉ Radio One earlier this year, Ms Harney reminded him that she was younger than many TDs had been when first elected to the Dáil.
