Some years ago I had the opportuity to visit Dail Eireann to introduce the aims and objectives of Down Syndrome Centre to the “then Minister” of state with responsibility for disablity. No names provided.
The “then Minister”  had only recently taken up the position and while I went with the goal of making an indelible impression, I left knowing full well that the person in question really hadn’t the first iota about the disability sector.

And believe me, I say that tongue-in-cheek because after working in support of issues relating to Down syndrome for the past decade, I still find myself discovering rules and regulations imposed by the HSE which seem exclusionary rather than inclusionary, which one would be right in presuming all HSE policy should be.

But as the “then Minister” kept deferring to his HSE advisor, it was brutally obvious that he had not had a chance to skill up adequately on the brief.   A few years on, and the “then Minister” is not the Minister any more. And while I have not met with his incumbent, my own belief is that the health system is so multi-tiered – with no one size fitting all – that his predecessor will be meeting the same challenges in getting to grips with the disability portfolio.

In truth, not many of our Ministers have endured as long as Minister Mary Harney or I suggest, would be as knowledgable in their field as she undoubtedly is.  After being  in the role as Minister for  Health and Children for the past six years,  it would be hard to find fault in her understanding and knowledge of the health issues in this country.

So it struck me as more of the commonplace ‘Dunphy outrage’ last week when  the broadcaster suggested that he would run in opposition to Mary Harney in the next election after his own grandson faced what he considered poor level of care in a Dublin children’s hospital.

While many criticise her for actions she had had to take in recent times to reduce the public health bill in this country,  she has stuck to her guns. She has persevered in a role that many of her male counterparts would not gladly assume and has tried to make the best out of what generally is a bad lot.

Many parents with children with disability and without, will have shared Eamonn Dunphy’s horror and outrage at being left waiting in A & E, at not getting through on the phone, at whatever gets in the way of their child being seen as quickly as possible by the best there is. But it does happens and while Eamonn has a voice that will be heard, many parents do not.

To assume that he could take on the role of Minister for Health – although I suspect it is no more than an idle threat in reality -  and do it better, is laughable.  And perhaps there are moments when Mary would gladly hand him the job on a plate!

My point is that I believe we should not be suggesting that we throw the baby out with the bathwater. Instead, we should be asking ourselves who has the best, indepth knowledge and appreciation of the health arena in this country.  In the current crisis, who can make the best decisions to ensure the best outcomes for the most people.

© Sheila Campbell, DSC 2010

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