McDowell tagged a lame-duck minister

THE Labour Party yesterday tagged Michael McDowell a lame-duck justice minister who has lost his authority.

Labour justice spokesman Brendan Howlin said the minister has also failed to consult properly with opposition parties on emergency legislation to overcome the child rape crisis.

Describing what he called “the most extraordinary meeting I have ever had with a minister,” Mr Howlin said he and his colleagues had been presented with a questionnaire by the minister at a meeting with him on Wednesday.