Martin Kenny (Sligo-Leitrim, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

My colleagues have adequately outlined the many reasons Deputy Harris should be removed as Minister for Health. Unless some Fianna Fáil Deputies manage to grow a spine in the next half an hour, the Minister will stay in position with their blessing and under Deputy Micheál Martin’s instruction. Why would Deputy Micheál Martin want to keep Deputy Harris in the position? Why does he not want accountability? Maybe it is because he simply does not believe in accountability.

This is Deputy Micheál Martin’s 30th year in the Dáil. Over that time he stood firmly with former Members Charlie Haughey and Bertie Ahern as evidence mounted over corrupt payments. He did not seek accountability then and he does not seek it now. During his 14 years as a Minister, time and again, he ducked and dived, avoiding accountability at every turn. When asked if he bore any responsibility for the illegal nursing home charges scandal, which cost the State €486 million, he said "No, I do not". There is also the issue of his cronyism in appointing board members to the Irish Blood Transfusion Board at a critical juncture when public confidence was shaken following the hepatitis C scandal. Then there was the overseeing of the FÁS expenses scandal when despite being aware of a gross waste of public funds he took no action to stop it.

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