McDowell highlights 'gap in the market' in Irish politics

THERE IS a “gap in the market” in Irish politics which will need to be filled if the next general election is to be more than…

THERE IS a “gap in the market” in Irish politics which will need to be filled if the next general election is to be more than just a contest between Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael to see who will govern with the Labour Party, former PD leader Michael McDowell has said.

If people wanted to stop the general election being like that, they had to do something about it rather than just complaining, Mr McDowell said in an address to a private audience.

Sources say that quoting from the Constitution, Mr McDowell said: “Fidelity to the nation and loyalty to the State are fundamental political duties of all citizens.”

Asked if Mr McDowell had suggested a new party should be formed, a person who was present, speaking on the basis of anonymity, said Mr McDowell remarked: “There’s a gap in the market but is there a market in the gap?”

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The former PD leader did not say he was forming a party, sources added.

Mr McDowell declined to comment to The Irish Timesyesterday.

A large portion of his address was devoted to criticising the media, including The Irish Timesand RTÉ. He agreed with Taoiseach Brian Cowen that media commentary about the economy was excessively negative. He objected to the media criticising the Government for not seeing the property crash coming, when they too had not predicted the financial downturn. He mentioned The Irish Times Ltd's purchase of the property website myhome.ie for €50 million in 2006.

Mr McDowell said he was a liberal, stressing he was not a conservative, but rather a “true” republican who believed in a united Ireland.

The former tánaiste made his remarks during an address to about 40 people at a private event in the Kildare Street and University Club on St Stephen’s Green on Wednesday. A number of speakers have been asked to deliver after-dinner addresses by some members of the club, who also invite the guests. Mr McDowell was applauded warmly after speaking for about half an hour.

A former attorney general and minister for justice, Mr McDowell lost his Dáil seat in the May 2007 general election and said he was quitting politics on the night of the count. Leaving the RDS, he said: “I love my country and I am deeply ambitious for it, but at this point I have to say with this outcome at this stage of my career it makes it very clear that, as far as I am concerned, my period of public life as a public representative is over.”

Continued speculation about his return to politics has peaked in recent weeks with rumours circulating that he wanted either to form a new political party or return to Fine Gael, the party he was a member of before helping to establish the PDs.

Mary Minihan

Mary Minihan

Mary Minihan is Features Editor of The Irish Times