Labour motion wants McDowell to shun controversy

The Progressive Democrats face a new embarrassment over the aborted attempt to woo the Attorney General, Mr Michael McDowell, …

The Progressive Democrats face a new embarrassment over the aborted attempt to woo the Attorney General, Mr Michael McDowell, back to the party.

The Labour Party has tabled a private members' motion for the Dail calling on Mr McDowell to desist from making political statements and becoming involved in party political controversy.

The motion, tabled by Labour's deputy leader, Mr Brendan Howlin, follows the leaking of Mr McDowell's proposal document on his re-entry to the party. In a covering letter Mr McDowell said he wanted to promote the idea of a united Ireland.

A spokesman for the Tanaiste said last night that Mr McDowell was an excellent AG and the party opposed Labour's political game-playing.

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Mr Howlin said the motion was being tabled because of concerns that Mr McDowell had departed from the accepted practice of recent AGs by involving himself in party controversy.

"In the past we have heard controversial views from the Attorney General about taxation and Northern Ireland, not to mention his abortive plan for the revival of the Progressive Democrats with himself as president and chief executive," Mr Howlin said.

The Attorney General had "a unique constitutional and legal role, and public confidence in the impartiality and independence of that office can be undermined by involvement in matters of particular controversy, especially those that place him in conflict with Government members."

The motion, to be debated at the end of the month, calls on the Attorney General not to make any public political statements or to become involved in party controversy. It also calls on the Taoiseach to make the Dail's views known to the AG.