The Government is “riven by internal tension” following the resignations of Trevor Sargent and Willie O’Dea in the past week, the Dáil heard today.
Speaking during leaders questions, Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny said the coalition parties are “divided by suspicion and lack of trust”.
Mr Kenny asked the Taoiseach if he felt he had committed an error in judgement in attempting “to defend the indefensible” through his handling of former minister Willie O’Dea’s resignation last week.
“Yesterday we witnessed the dignified resignation of former minister for state Trevor Sargent, contrast that with the actions determined by you last week," Mr Kenny.
“Do you accept you made a serious error of judgement in attempting to defend the indefensible in the case of former minister O’Dea because you forced your government, your own members in the backbenches, and the green party to come in here and publicly defend the former minister?”
In response, Taoiseach Brian Cowen rounded on the Opposition saying they had a lot to answer for in relation to the way they “had behaved”.
Last night Opposition parties suggested the leak that prompted the resignation of Mr Sargent as Minister of State with responsibility for Food yesterday came from a Government source.
Mr Cowen said: ”The contrast I saw yesterday was the dignity of Deputy Sargent’s statement against what was subsequently suggested outside this house by yours and others, by suggesting that there was something involved by this party in relation to these matters.
“That’s the contrast I saw and it was a pretty pathetic and ham-fisted attempt.”
Labour leader Eamonn Gilmore said the Government does not have the “confidence of the public” and following 13 years in office it has a “staleness” and “fatigue”. He accused them of being “punch drunk” from the economic events of the last year and a half and said there is increasing evidence of incompetence.
“We had it last week with the Tánaiste’s mishandling of the aeronautics jobs at Dublin airport and the events of last week I think have shown that your Government is now seriously divided,” Mr Gilmore said.
He challenged the Taoiseach to call a general election as the Government was now at its end.
“It is not responsible for you with a battered, broken, tired and now divided Government to continue to hang on to office in circumstances and in times in which people need a competent functioning government.”
“The iceberg has struck, it is now only a matter of time.”
Mr Cowen responded by saying “there isn’t a coherent alternative to the capacity of this Government.”
He said: “Once again we have Deputy Gilmore getting up this morning to give his view of the world. This Government is demonstrating its preparedness to take the decisions necessary and that there are no circumstances that support will be provided from that side of the house.
“But that won’t deter us and far from being tired, let me assure you, we are ready to fulfil our mandate for the remainder of this term,” he said.
