Peers puzzled by political pullout

THE sensational decision by former minister Jim McDaid to end his political career with a short letter to the Dáil has flummoxed his political peers.

Allies and rivals alike did not expect him to contest the next general election but his decision to resign suddenly blew a hole in the bow of the Government’s election strategy.

Taoiseach Brian Cowen and Tánaiste Mary Coughlan both expressed regret at Dr McDaid’s decision.

Ms Coughlan denied Dr McDaid’s contention that the Dáil needed to be governed by a sizeable majority.

And the Taoiseach said the departure of his former friend would not deter the Government which had been given its mandate in the 2007 election.

However, Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny said the dwindling number of TDs now supporting the Government was bad for the Dáil.

“James McDaid has been an advocate for a general election for some time. We now have the unprecedented, bizarre, even GUBU-esque, situation where the number of vacant seats exceeds the Government’s working majority.

“It is bad for democracy, is anti-democratic and smacks of cowardice on the Government’s part when those in the constituencies with vacancies are not allowed their mandate or the people a national verdict on the Government,” he said.

Terry McEniff, Dr McDaid’s former director of elections, told Highland Radio his supporters had known for some weeks that the TD’s frustration had grown and he would not see out the Dáil term.

Dr McDaid’s political rival, Niall Blaney, who bested him for supremacy in the Fianna Fáil network in Donegal north east, paid tribute to him.

He said while the two intra-party factions did not agree he respected his rival’s contribution. Dr McDaid’s likely successor in the case of a by-election, Cecilia Keaveney, said she did not believe an election should be called, as the international markets did not need the uncertainty of the contest.

Ms Keaveney lost her Dáil seat in 2007, with the return of Dr Blaney to Fianna Fáil proper. She won it in 1996 because of the support of Dr McDaid.

Dr McDaid’s departure was a shock. He spoke at a meeting on Monday and said he had decisions to make but gave no indication his resignation was imminent.

FG TD Joe McHugh said he attended the meeting but did not see the signs of what was about to happen.

Independent deputy Finian McGrath said Dr McDaid’s attendance record meant he was no loss to politics.