McDowell reaction: The tension between the Government parties eased yesterday with a statement from Tánaiste Michael McDowell saying that the damage done in recent days could be repaired. It was not clear, however, how Mr McDowell believes the damage can be repaired and what the Taoiseach will be required to do to achieve that objective.
After a row between the two men on Thursday morning, which was followed by over 24 hours of silence from the PDs, Mr McDowell told journalists in Dublin at lunchtime yesterday that he had planned to talk to the Taoiseach last night and again today.
Asked if the Coalition was going to survive, Mr McDowell replied: "The Government is safe if the damage that has been done to the Government in recent times is repaired." He was adamant that the damage had not been caused by his party.
The Tánaiste said that the focus of both himself and the Taoiseach was to repair the damage that had been caused. "The two parties have the capacity to overcome their differences," he said.
Mr McDowell said he was working hard - as normal - in the Department of Justice yesterday and had not cancelled any engagements as a result of the difficulties between himself and the Taoiseach the previous day.
He said that the business of Government was going on as normal and he was working to repair the damage. Mr McDowell stressed that the damage to the Government had not been caused by him or his party.
He added that both parties in the Coalition had taken a decision on Thursday not to say anything to make the situation worse.
"We both agreed yesterday to reflect on the situation that exists and we asked our respective parties to refrain from commenting on the situation. I want to thank my colleagues in the Progressive Democrats who have been very careful not to say things that would aggravate the situation."
Mr McDowell said it was very important that both parties in Government should focus on the issues on which they had sought a mandate from the people to govern. He said that he would be talking to the Taoiseach about how the damage could be repaired.
Mr McDowell's comments came after behind-the-scenes activity involving TDs from both Government parties aimed at defusing a crisis that had threatened the future of the Coalition. Earlier Mary Harney said difficulties had been overcome in the past when the good relationships at all levels between the parties had been used.
Speaking in Limerick earlier in the day the Taoiseach said that he wanted to get on with the job of Government and did not want to precipitate any difficulty.
It is expected that the Taoiseach and Tánaiste will decide today what course of action can be taken to repair the damage which Mr McDowell referred to but it may not be clear until early next week what that will involve.
Labour Party leader Pat Rabbitte last night called on the "sulk Coalition" to go to the country and allow the election of a government that could focus on the issues confronting ordinary working families.
"How can a bedraggled Government where one partner does not trust or believe the other make and defend decisions?" he asked a Labour Party selection convention in Clare.
"How can the crisis in policing, in our hospitals, in public transport be addressed in circumstances where the two parties are scarcely speaking to each other?
"How can the business of Government continue when the PD leader and Tánaiste goes missing and won't resume normal business relationships because he can't be sure what will tumble out over the weekend," said Mr Rabbitte.
