Greens ‘did not force resignation’

TAOISEACH Brian Cowen has claimed the Green party did not force former Defence Minister Willie O’Dea’s resignation.

Describing the events that led up to Mr O’Dea’s resignation as “a controversy we could have done without” he maintained that his party’s relations with the Green Party remained “excellent” despite concerns expressed by some Fianna Fáil backbenchers that the junior coalition partner had forced his hand in the matter.

Speaking to journalists outside the Tara Mines head office in Meath the Taoiseach said Mr O’Dea contacted him shortly after his interview on RTÉ’s News at One on Thursday.

“Willie O’Dea himself had indicated to me he was considering his position in the light of developments and that he was anxious not to become the focus of attention and the work of Government.”

“John Gormley and myself had a discussion later that evening, myself and Willie O’Dea discussed it as well, so it had already been indicated to me by Willie O’Dea that he was very much of the few that he didn’t want his presence in Government to become a matter of instability for the Government. He took a broad view on that and I commend him for it.”

Asked had he concluded it was time for Mr O’Dea to step down prior to his discussions with the Green leader Mr Cowen failed to answer directly saying: “I wanted to give him (Mr O’Dea) space and time to reflect over those hours and to consult with colleagues. It’s important that these matters be done in a proper and appropriate way.”

He said his relationship with Mr Gormley and the Green Party remained “excellent” stating that he had not “bounced” the junior coalition partner into voting confidence in Mr O’Dea but had simply followed Dáil procedure.

“I want to be clear about this that a motion of no confidence was put down by the opposition and it is the tradition to take up that challenge immediately and not leave that degree of uncertainty about any member of Government or indeed the Government.”

Mr Cowen claimed that when he and the Fianna Fáil Chief Whip Pat Carey had decided to put down the confidence motion in Mr O’Dea they had “informed our Green party colleagues as soon as possible”.

The Taoiseach had also not requested an opportunity to listen to Mr O’Dea’s interview with the Limerick Leader, which lay at the heart of the controversy, prior to Wednesday confidence vote, despite an audio copy being in the possession of the former Defence Minister’s legal team.