FINE GAEL ministers have received a stinging rebuke from their party colleagues for failing in the past year to support the Minister for Justice in pushing through anti crime measures.
A 2 1/2 hour meeting of the Fine Gael parliamentary party yesterday also heard an unusual degree of criticism of Labour and Democratic Left. The junior Government partners were blamed for stalling change, particularly in relation to the bail law.
Following yesterday's meeting, the party chairman, Mr Phil Hogan, said Mrs Owen "has been left hanging out to dry by members of the Government, included Fine Gael".
"Members of the parliamentary party were very vociferous in their condemnation of the lack of support for her. People knew what response (to crime) was required but she did not get the support she needed", he added.
The Garda also came in for criticism as TDs urged the appointment of an outside figure to replace the outgoing Commissioner, Mr Patrick Culligan. According to Mr Hogan and other Fine Gael sources, they felt that particular care" should be put into the choice of a new commissioner.
His parliamentary party reflected unease at what is seen as Garda ineffectiveness in the face of organised crime. They were too slow in responding to complaints, had "too many hidden agendas ... and are too busy doing other things". People were also perturbed at divisions in the force.
The Taoiseach spoke at the beginning of the meeting and left at 1 p.m. Mr Bruton told his TDs and senators that fighting crime cost money. One TD said Mr Bruton was not present to hear many of the angry comments directed at ministers.
"The parliamentary party's voluble and unequivocal support for Mrs Ow en's efforts had also been matched by a universal expression of frustration and regret at the long overdue Government support for her efforts", Mr Hogan added.
That regret and frustration was "directed at all members of the Cabinet" and there was "no evidence" of Mr Bruton or any other minister supporting Owen. Her Fine Gael colleagues did not do enough to assist her and "it was up to them to persuade Labour and Democratic Left" when the two smaller parties did not accept the urgency of the situation.
"They could have exercised considerably more priority," Hogan said. Mrs Owen was right when she proposed a constitutional referendum on bail last year "but she did not get the support she should have got".
"There was regret (at yesterday's meeting) that we voted against changes in the right to silence last week at Committee Stage of the Drugs Trafficking Bill - and voted for it this week. Voting it down was a mistake", Mr Hogan said.
In spite of concerns raised at a number of Fine Gael parliamentary meetings in the past over the crime threat, no appropriate action was taken. Mr Hogan said he deeply regretted it took the death of Veronica Guerin to bring about the Government's anti crime package, unveiled on Tuesday.
Meanwhile, the parliamentary party had "no difficulty" with Fianna Fail's proposals on the freezing of assets held by suspected criminals. They wanted to see the legislation become law without delay.
TDs were also critical of Labour and Democratic Left, who were "now climbing on to the moral high ground but she (Mrs Owen) had grave problems trying to persuade them on previous occasions", one Fine Gael TD said last night.