Cowen rejects claim of ‘broken government’

THE Taoiseach angrily hit back at accusations his Government was “riven by internal tension” in the wake of claims that Trevor Sargent was forced from office as part of a Fianna Fáil plot to avenge Willie O’Dea’s fall.

Furious exchanges in the Dáil saw Labour’s Eamon Gilmore dismiss the Government as “broken”.

Mr Gilmore said the Coalition had thrown away public confidence due to the “staleness and fatigue” of being in power for 13 years, and added events like the failure to secure 300 hi-tech jobs for Dublin Airport which Ryanair said it was ready to offer in return for Government flexibility proved the Cowen administration was “punch drunk” from economic failure.