Labour's 'populism' cuts no turf with Gormley

DÁIL SKETCH:JOANNA TUFFY hit a nerve. Labour's environment spokeswoman asked, entirely seriously: "What's the difference in having a Green Minister and having a Fianna Fáil Minister for the Environment?" A trick question? No, she wanted to know how many cases the European Commission has against Ireland for infringements of EU environmental laws, because even with a Green Minister "we're still in the top three worst offenders in Europe".

John Gormley said 25 cases were “in correspondence”. This compared with 33 cases when he came into Government.

As for Fianna Fáil and Green Ministers, well: “I think there is probably a major difference between whether there is a Green Minister . . . or indeed a potential Labour minister”, he said.

Gormley was shocked, he said, at a press release from Labour leader Eamon Gilmore that most certainly did not face up to its environmental responsibilities.

“Preventing rural families from continuing centuries of turf cutting flies in the face of reason,” the statement said. “This is populist nonsense when I’m trying to deal with a very, very sensitive issue,” the Minister thundered.

Tuffy remarked: “When it comes to environment law, human beings are part of the environment” and Labour was “raising a genuine issues of human interest”.

“You can’t have it every way,” said the Minister – adhere to EU law and then issue an “opportunistic and totally populist statement like that which is about vote getting and nothing more”.

Oh, the joys of Opposition.

As for being populist or even popular, the Government has undoubtedly very low expectations in this regard.

And there was no let up in the rows over banking remuneration. After Bank of Ireland’s Richie Boucher said he would give up his €1.5 million pension top-up, up next is former Irish Nationwide boss Michael Fingleton’s €1 million bonus.

Tánaiste Mary Coughlan repeated her view that Fingleton should return the money.

Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny asked if the Taoiseach would introduce legislation to ensure the money would be returned.

The Tánaiste said no legislation was promised.

Mr Kenny recalled that the Taoiseach had said everything would be done – so that surely included legislation.

The Tánaiste told him “one can’t make assumptions on anything that is said in this House”.

The Fine Gael leader pounced: “I’m glad the Tánaiste said that we can’t assume what the Taoiseach says is the truth.”

“That’s a scurrilous remark,” said Coughlan.

There was a procedure for making allegations, said the Ceann Comhairle.

“What is the allegation?” Deputy Kenny asked innocently.

“Well, that one can’t believe what the Taoiseach says,” replied the Ceann Comhairle, at which point the Opposition cracked up.