LEADERSHIP:TWO MINISTERS came out strongly in support of Mr Cowen yesterday with Minister for Social Protection Éamon Ó Cuív saying any Minister who no longer had confidence in the Taoiseach should resign from the Cabinet.
Minister for Enterprise Batt O’Keeffe, speaking in Cork, said a majority in the party supported Brian Cowen and he would lead it into a general election.
Asked if he would urge Ministers considering a leadership challenge to declare their intentions, Mr O’Keeffe said it was not for him to do so. “All I can declare is that I have absolute full confidence in the Taoiseach.”
He contended that earlier in the week some opponents in the party had “tried to spin the Taoiseach out of office as quickly as possible”, and that Mr Cowen’s supporters did not stand for it.
Asked if Ministers opposed to Mr Cowen should resign he said: “If I didn’t have confidence in the Taoiseach, I certainly would be of the view that I would inform the Taoiseach of not having confidence and there would only be one principled action that was left to you and that would be to resign your post.”
Mr Ó Cuív also said Ministers who no longer supported Mr Cowen should resign. “There is no vacancy – that is creating a reality that does not exist,” he said.
When pressed, however, he acknowledged that he was on record as saying that any Fianna Fáil TD would have ambitions to lead the party and he was no different.
In an interview with Raidió na Gaeltachta, he said “if the grassroots of the party come to me and if they believed I was the best person for the job, of course I’d have to think about it and of course I’d be interested in it.” But Mr Ó Cuív stressed that the Taoiseach retained his confidence. “I have spoken with him. He’s the leader of my party, and he has my confidence.”
Another possible leadership contender, Minister for Finance Brian Lenihan, made no public comment yesterday but met the Taoiseach last night to discuss his leadership and the situation facing the party.
Minister for Tourism Mary Hanafin confirmed that she spoke to the Taoiseach by phone yesterday evening and conveyed her views.
She said she was satisfied that her views “would be taken into consideration along with those of party colleagues”.
The Minister, a candidate in the event of a leadership contest, did not express confidence in Mr Cowen’s leadership under repeated questioning earlier this week.
Asked if anyone had approached her about standing for the leadership, Ms Hanafin declined to answer but told RTÉ there was a “level of unease” in the party that Mr Cowen “needs to ascertain” for himself.
Sources close to Mr Cowen indicated last night that the process was likely to continue today, and possibly into tomorrow.
Mr Lenihan spent the day in the Department of Finance and was involved in preparation work for the Finance Bill, said a spokeswoman.
“The process is ongoing. The Taoiseach is taking soundings and will then make a decision. Mr Lenihan will await his decision on the matter,” said the spokeswoman. The other senior Minister spoken of as a contender, Micheál Martin, made no public comment yesterday.
He spent the day in his constituency and was not in telephone contact with Mr Cowen.
A number of Ministers yesterday expressed strong support for Mr Cowen, saying they would back him in the event of a challenge. They included Tánaiste Mary Coughlan, Minister for Defence Tony Killeen and Minister for Agriculture Brendan Smith.
Mr Killeen told The Irish Timeshe remained 100 per cent loyal to Mr Cowen. Mr Smith also indicated he would fully support him in the event of a challenge.
Minister of State Conor Lenihan yesterday morning said people in his constituency of Dublin South West wanted a change of leader.
Mr Lenihan, a brother of the Minister for Finance, said that while his constituents wanted a change, he himself had yet to make up his mind. But he said it was important for contenders to declare publicly their ambitions.