Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)

Mr. Finlay writes, "Brendan was the one who took the most persuading. He didn't want to be Minister for Health....Dick had to tell him there was no other option, but he was the most reluctant Minister".

How was Deputy Howlin, as Minister, judged? We are told he "lost his nerve", that he had "simply made things worse." Who said that? Deputy McManus said it in the Dáil on 31 March 1993, when he was only three months in office. She accused him of introducing greater inequalities and said, "Any attempt to disguise this fact by the Minister is pure blabber". Always the bitter word. The party rosette may have changed, but the discordant song remains the same.

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