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.