The Workers’ Party have said that the decision of newly elected Taoiseach Brian Cowen to reappoint Mary Harney as Minister for Health is a clear signal that the health service will continue to come under attack from his government and that the privatisation agenda goes forward unrelentingly regardless of the consequences to public health patients.

Waterford Workers’ Party Councillor Davy Walsh said that the new Cabinet was even more right-wing that appointed by Bertie Ahern less than 12 months ago and it signals tough times ahead for working class people with Minister Harney remaining in charge of health.

“This cabinet reshuffle has more to do with keeping the Fianna Fáil troops happy and rewarding Cowen’s supporters than with appointing the most appropriate people to cabinet. While Minister Martin Cullen can be seen largely as the author of his own demotion it does not augur well for Waterford that it does not have any Minister with clout at the cabinet table”, said Cllr Walsh.