Blast of past as Higgins tackles Gilmore

DÁIL SKETCH:IT WAS almost like old times. Back in the day when Bertie was the boss Joe Higgins was one of the few TDs who got under his skin. The Socialist Party deputy's influence has been significantly diluted in the 31st Dáil by the presence of so many Independents.

But yesterday there was more than an element of the old form in the Dáil chamber, and he used his tactics on Tánaiste Eamon Gilmore on the ever-fraught issue of Israel and the Gaza blockade. The Labour leader maintained his usual impassivity, even when engaging in an effective rallying of the troops. They were quiet when Joe started his attack on the Tánaiste’s lack of public response when the Israelis arrested 14 Irish citizens in international waters after they attempted to break the naval blockade on Gaza.

But later there were a few gaffes when the Dáil had moved to other business. Eight months in office and the Tánaiste referred to former minister Éamon Ó Cuív, now deputy leader of Fianna Fáil as “an Aire Ó Cuív” (Minister Ó Cuív) in an exchange as Gaeilge rather than “an Teachta” (deputy). Then FF’s Timmy Dooley caught him out on the Government’s much-vaunted pledge to “put parliament front and centre in all decisions and discussions” on important announcements. The capital spending review however, was not launched in the Dáil. The Fianna Fáil TD asked the Tánaiste to explain why not. The Tánaiste stumbled: “This pertains to the people’s money,” he said. “The Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform will make a public announcement on and will publish the capital programme.”

Timmy attacked: “The last time I checked the chamber was a public venue that is televised.”

Eamon said the Government agreed to have a debate in the chamber next week. Ah yes, back to the good old days of the Dáil debating issues days after they are in the public domain.

And back to Joe. He told the Tánaiste that while officials of the Irish Embassy in Tel Aviv had done their job, the Minister for Foreign Affairs had not done his. “You have not uttered a single word of protest in public in response to this outrage.” The Labour benches were quiet. For almost six days, citizens of the State “have been kept in an Israeli jail and subjected to continuous harassment, strip searches, disorientation techniques and humiliation.” The Tánaiste should call in the Israeli ambassador and if he did not reveal the details of the release he should be expelled. Eamon however was “way ahead of you”. He had called in the ambassador on Wednesday and “conveyed my dissatisfaction” at the delay in their release. The Socialist TD was not impressed and claimed Israel had “humiliated” Ireland. The Tánaiste should stand up for the Palestinian people instead of “defending the indefensible”.

The Labour troops had rallied. “We won’t take a lecture from you,” shouted one. The Tánaiste said the Government had taken a “proud independent position” on Palestine and the Government got no support from the Socialists when they decided to support Palestine’s membership of Unesco. A belated rally. He’ll just have to do his homework better when facing Joe.