TAOISEACH BRIAN Cowen flew to New York last night to address the United Nations General Assembly this afternoon, after some initial hesitation due to the refusal of a voting pair by Fine Gael in the Dáil.
Reflecting its more aggressive approach in the new Dáil session, Fine Gael is to continue its policy of withdrawing from pairing arrangements today when a vote on its private members' motion on the economy is due to be taken.
A party spokesman said this reflected Fine Gael's determination to focus attention on the Government's performance in the current crisis.
Former taoiseach Bertie Ahern is also in New York, where he was among the guests invited to a fundraising dinner last night by cross-Border charity Co-operation Ireland. Mr Ahern is on the board of the organisation. Other invited guests included Northern Ireland junior ministers Jeffrey Donaldson and Gerry Kelly.
Neither the Government nor Opposition whips' offices made any arrangement for Mr Ahern to be paired. Government chief whip Pat Carey said he understood there was a private arrangement this week between the former taoiseach and the Fine Gael leader, but a Fine Gael spokesman strongly denied this.
In a clash with Mr Cowen in the Dáil yesterday, Mr Kenny accused the Government of "gross political cowardice" because of its refusal to clear the agenda for a two-day debate on the economy.
Mr Cowen responded that the budget was being brought to the Dáil within three weeks. "The issue will crystallise on that day," he added. When Fine Gael pushed the issue to a vote, the Government won 78-68. A further attempt to secure three hours extra for a Fine Gael private members' motion on the economy was defeated by the same margin.
Pairing arrangements mean that deputies can absent themselves from the Dáil on the understanding that a corresponding member of an opposing party will not take part in any votes while the deputy is away.
Mr Cowen decided to make the trip to New York on the basis of advice from Mr Carey, who had noted that recently married Fine Gael TD Joe Carey is on his honeymoon.
The Taoiseach's decision was made on the basis the Government would win today's vote and also because, in the words of a senior Government source, "it would be acutely embarrassing if he wasn't able to go".
It is understood that a pair was granted to Minister of State Barry Andrews for family reasons but that he will be back in the Dáil today, as will Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism Martin Cullen, who was in the US on a private visit. At least six Opposition deputies were missing from the Dáil yesterday for different reasons, which allowed the Government greater flexibility with its own side.
However, Tánaiste Mary Coughlan will not be attending today's meeting of the Competitiveness Council in Brussels, which was due to discuss issues relating to small businesses.
Minister for Justice Dermot Ahern, who was due to attend a Justice and Home Affairs Council meeting in the Belgian capital, will also stay at home for the Dáil vote. "We can't let them go," said a Government source.
Strongly criticising Fine Gael, Mr Ahern insisted: "From my perspective it was vitally important that I attend the EU council meeting, but I am effectively banned from raising Ireland's concerns in relation to recent changes with regard to immigration, particularly the pressing issue of bogus marriages of convenience." Fine Gael chief whip Paul Kehoe said the Government's problem over ministerial travel plans was one of its own making.
