Irish politician escapes heat in NZ

Irish Health Minister Mary Harney has arrived in Christchurch as a political storm brews at home.

Harney has come under fire from Opposition politicians in Ireland for flying to New Zealand as a health scandal erupted in Dublin.

The controversy involved disclosures that 58,000 X-rays were never reviewed by consultant radiologists at a Dublin hospital and nearly 3500 referral letters from general practitioners went unread.

The main purpose of Harney's visit was to celebrate St Patrick's Day and promote Ireland. Irish Prime Minister Brian Cowen is set to reshuffle his Cabinet next week, and there is increasing speculation on Harney's fate.

She refused to comment on the issue.

"I've learnt lessons that when you're in Rome you do as the Romans do, and when I'm here I'm going to talk about New Zealand," she said.

"But clearly we are facing a Cabinet reshuffle next week and a reorganisation of the Government."

She said Ireland could learn from New Zealand's emergence from recession.

Harney said New Zealand did not experience the same "reckless lending" as Ireland because of better regulations.

- © Fairfax NZ News