Council row rocks Labour/FG party relations

THE rift between Labour and Fine Gael — has widened in Cork even further since sparks flew at the recent annual general meeting (agm) of Cork County Council.

Pat Rabbitte and Edna Kenny will not look kindly on the rift in their coalition, especially as it has led to Fine Gael losing chairmanship of an important committee in north Cork.

At last Thursday’s agm of the Fermoy/Mallow area roads committee, Labour sided with Fianna Fáil, to give the chairmanship of the committee to Fianna Fáil’s Cllr Kevin O’Keeffe.

This came days after Labour leader on Cork County Council, Cllr Paula Desmond accused Fine Gael of ignoring Labour and railroading through policies at council level.

Mr O’Keeffe said yesterday he was surprised when Labour decided to support his nomination.

“This is in total conflict with their national agreement. I think this is a landmark and I’m sure both their party leaders are watching this with interest,” Mr O’Keeffe said.

Fine Gael’s leader on the county council, Cllr Tom Sheahan, claimed the Labour attitude “was letting the side down a bit”.

“I hope to talk to Labour and rectify this,” Mr Sheahan said.

However, Cllr Kevin O’Keeffe, the son of Deputy Ned O’Keeffe, added that Taoiseach Bertie Ahern could yet form a national coalition with Labour after the next general election.