Icelandic ash robs opposition of first victory in 13 years

WHEN the Dáil attendance record was changed to accommodate TDs who could not turn up because of the Icelandic ash cloud, the deputies argued the correction was incidental.

But there would have been consequences if the reality reflected the record.

The Ceann Comhairle, Seamus Kirk, allowed three Fine Gael TDs to appear present in the Dáil despite being grounded overseas. But had they been in the country they would have got more than a perfect attendance record — they would have delivered a majority for the opposition.

When the cloud appeared Fine Gael said it would be unrelenting in pursuing its plan to oust the Government.

It pushed the Government chief whip, John Curran, all the way and Fianna Fáil’s soldiers were dragged into Leinster House, while the independent Joe Behan was persuaded to switch sides.

On the day in question the Government still only scraped a win by a margin of 73 to 71 on the Central Bank Reform bill.

Had Fine Gael’s Jim O’Keeffe, James Reilly and Bernard Allen actually been in the Dáil, as the record suggests, the opposition would have got its first Dáil victory in 13 years.

Bernard Allen was in Portugal. He had travelled the previous week and had to remain abroad for a week longer than he had planned.

James Reilly was stuck in New York. He had spent the Easter volunteering in Haiti after an earthquake destroyed much of the country and left a large portion of its population homeless.

Dr Reilly made it as far as New York, but could not board a plane to cross the Atlantic.

Jim O’Keeffe was in Bangkok with his wife when the planes were denied access to European airspace.

John O’Donoghue, the sole Fianna Fáil TD to request to be present, was also abroad but his whereabouts were not made public.