10/11/2008

Fine Gael TD Says Harney Should Consider Position

A Fine Gael TD has called for Mary Harney to consider her position if she doesn't reverse the cervical cancer vaccine cut.

It is the second time the Minister for Health has seen her job in jeopardy following the dissolving of her political party, the Progressive Democrats, last week.

Echoing the American President-elect Barak Obama's acceptance speech, Fine Gael's Dr James Reilly TD questioned Ms Harney's claim she cannot find €10 million out of €16,000 million. "I say, 'Yes we can'," said Dr Reilly.

Minister Harney recently announced the shelving of a vaccine programme for teenage girls, immunizing them against a disease than often leads to cervical cancer due to budgetary restraints.

The Fine Gael spokesman for health added: "It was unthinkable 30 years ago that we would have a vaccine that would prevent cancer and that marvellous breakthrough, and its implications for the lives and well-being of women today, makes it unthinkable and unconscionable that we would not use it.

"We are at a moral crossroads as a nation. We choose between saving lives or tolerating inefficient bureaucracy and waste, which this Minister has presided over. I'm asking her to redeem herself and reverse this decision.

"If not she should consider her own position for if she doesn't Fine Gael will."

(DW)

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