Is Harney finished?

[LDF]

I just wanted to get some thoughts on Mary Harney's future at the Cabinet table.

Before the Tallaght scandal broke I thought she was pretty safe but i'm not so sure anymore. These are the factors Cowen will have to take into consideration ahead of the reshuffle-

-Harney is useful in putting enough distance between our Angola health service and FF. However, if Cowen doesn't move her in two weeks time isn't that a clear endorsment of her management of the health service?
-If Harney is moved who will replace her? We are governed by a cabinet of dunces. It says a lot for the most experienced cabinet in the history of the state that there is no standout candidate to take over a €15bn department. Even if a replacement were found, what exactly can they achieve in 2 years?
-If Cowen doesn't move her, the opposition will put down a motion of No Confidence. FF backbenchers will then have their chance to put their words into actions. Cowen risks being forced into a second reshuffle. That would further undermine Cowen's authority.
-If Cowen sacks her will Harney be happy to remain on as an Independent backbencher with no Party. She could resign from the Dail and trigger a bye-election. Cowen's slim majority gets that bit slimmer.

One possible compromise would see Harney take over one of the new economic ministeries being touted - planning or public sector reform. I doubt she will get the PS Reform gig.

So, what do you all think?

[odie1kanobe]

You live in Hope don't you. Its a town in Arkansas.

[DCon]

'trigger' a by-election makes it sound quick.

If she did resign, the by-election would be put on the same long finger as the other by-elections.

[LDF]

You live in Hope don't you. Its a town in Arkansas.

So, you don't think Harney will be moved?

I do not believe her position is as secure as it was last week. I don't think Cowen can take the support of the FF PP for Harney for granted.

[Malbekh]

There is no chance that Harney is going to be removed. Collectively she is responsible for the healthcare system and she did screw up by either not taking seriously the scale of the issue with the X-rays, orby sending in a junior to scope the situation out for damage assessment.

It's not a resigning matter. The opposition are just making political hay out of any potential divide in FF backbenchers with the cabinet and also layering on her current geographical whereabouts. Something they are perfectly entitled to do.

Harney will quit on her own terms, which will be before the next GE takes place.

[Monday Monday]

Harney is FF gene pool and she has a long history of milking the state coffers.

If she gets the sack I can easily see her "doing a Bertie" and pretending to be a TD for two more years while sucking up the last of the gravy.

I live in the heartland of Marys support base and, in my ward, the only people making any running are Martin Curran and Frances Fitzgerald. Mary has dissappeared without trace in my end of the constituency and it seems to me that Gogarty and Tuffy are leaving it dangerously late.

And looking into my crystal ball I see a bright future ahead for our girl. Maybe in a consultancy role, maybe as non-exec director, hang on... somethings coming through... is it Private healthcare I see.

[laidback]

more is coming out like sackfuls of GP referral letters left unopened and letters in Jan and april 2009 from prof tom O'Dowd which were received in the hospital but allegedly were not seen by the addressee until this week!

All this must weaken her position but I agree this lady will not go easily such is the gravy train she is used to.

At least some managers/board members must be sacked. But unlikely to happen.

A consultant at beaumont on VB Show last night called for Tallaght Board to be sacked.

[loner]

Is MH finished--YES she is and she should resign now rather than waiting to be sacked andwasting a lot of Dail time, that should be used to deal with our various crises, in the process.This farce of a Govt. with a scandal a day surfacing and the spectacle of the dancing Greens stepping in and stepping out should also go.

[Pauli]

Harney is FF gene pool and she has a long history of milking the state coffers.

If she gets the sack I can easily see her "doing a Bertie" and pretending to be a TD for two more years while sucking up the last of the gravy.

I live in the heartland of Marys support base and, in my ward, the only people making any running are Martin Curran and Frances Fitzgerald. Mary has dissappeared without trace in my end of the constituency and it seems to me that Gogarty and Tuffy are leaving it dangerously late.

And looking into my crystal ball I see a bright future ahead for our girl. Maybe in a consultancy role, maybe as non-exec director, hang on... somethings coming through... is it Private healthcare I see.

+1. She will pick up a few non-executive directorships which will be good for something more than chump change while she continues to milk the taxpayer by way of her over-inflated pension(s). When she eventually goes. She won't go short. And, of course, her husband is earning (!) so she wont have to worry about a roof over her head.

[Victor Meldrew]

If she gets the sack I can easily see her "doing a Bertie" and pretending to be a TD for two more years while sucking up the last of the gravy

She'll take everything,

If she gets the sack I can easily see her "doing a Bertie" and pretending to be a TD for two more years while sucking up the last of the gravy.
And looking into my crystal ball I see a bright future ahead for our girl. Maybe in a consultancy role, maybe as non-exec director, hang on... somethings coming through... is it Private healthcare I see.

Always thought that Harney's appeal to the Private sector was her enthusiasm and ability to sell the country out to vested interests. She needs a Ministry to do that. Would she not be "pointless" without power. Unlike Bertie she has no idiot fan-base.

So I'd expect a load of non-exec directorships just to shut her up. I doubt that there was or is much intellect there now.