Taoiseach’s position under threat as TDs lose faith

BRIAN Cowen faced a deepening leadership crisis last night as Fianna Fáil TDs expressed despair at his failure to hold the party together.

Mr Cowen’s authority was further weakened as it was revealed no disciplinary action would be taken against two Sligo deputies who resigned the whip and vowed to vote against the government.

Tánaiste Mary Coughlan said the move by Jimmy Devins and Eamon Scanlon did “not necessarily” mean an early general election now that the Government’s Dáil majority has been wiped out.

Though still not prepared to go on the record, a number of Fianna Fáil TDs said they did not expect Mr Cowen to still be Taoiseach at Christmas as his leadership style came under attack.

“It is a matter of when he goes, not if,” said one senior TD.

Mr Cowen faces a stormy autumn as he tries to implement drastic and deep spending cuts recommended by the Bord Snip report and implement tax hikes in the run-up to another austerity December budget.

The two Sligo resignations have caused deep unease in the parliamentary party with Cork South Central TD Michael McGrath expressing alarm at the “significant blow” to the party’s Dáil control as he warned the Government could not take any more hits like it.

Cork North Central TD Noel O’Flynn urged the Taoiseach to meet all his TDs on a one-to-one basis to avoid the prospect of a “formidable bloc” of renegade deputies outside the Fianna Fáil whip.

Deputy McDaid admitted it was difficult to see the Government lasting its full term: “I think it is going to be difficult. To tell you the truth I have often said previously that there should be a general election because Fianna Fáil is taking all of the blame, and perhaps rightly so in some situations.”

Tipperary TD Mattie McGrath also threatened to quit the whip over health changes planned for his constituency, as deputy Jim McDaid – who had the whip withdrawn from him for voting against the Government – told Newstalk it was hard to see the avoidance of an early election.

Despite having a majority of 13 when formed, the Government can now only count on the support of 82 votes, with the combined non-government vote also totalling 82, meaning ex-FF minister the Ceann Comhairle John O’Donoghue holds the casting vote.

Dr Devins said his support for the Government was not guaranteed, but Sligo colleague Mr Scanlon said his resignation was also in protest at the plan to transfer breast cancer services from Sligo to University College Hospital Galway, but that it was not designed to bring down the Government.

The Save our Cancer Services campaign in Sligo said the action was meaningless.

“All they’re doing is resigning their whip. There is no concrete move to resume cancer services at Sligo Hospital,” a spokesperson said.

The election of Donegal South West TD, Pat ‘the Cope’ Gallagher, to the European Parliament in June has reduced the number of TDs in the Dáil to 165 until the vacancy is filled.

The Government has now lost five deputies due to health protests with Mr McDaid having the whip withdrawn from him, Joe Behan quitting the party entirely over means-testing for medical cards and Independent TD Finian McGrath withdrawing support.