Leadership rivals play a cagey game

MINISTERS stalking the leadership of Fianna Fáil played a cagey game as they waited for the clock to run out on Taoiseach Brian Cowen’s consultation exercise.

Mr Cowen’s loyalists were dominant on the airwaves throughout yesterday as those who could potentially oust him remained silent.

The most vocal renegade was junior Science Minister Conor Lenihan who called on his brother, Brian, Mary Hanafin or Micheál Martin to act to remove Mr Cowen.

He said if one of the trio wanted to lead the party they should show leadership and speak out publicly. Mr Lenihan said each of the challengers was equally competent to lead the party.

But he also said the soundings he picked up from his local organisation suggested the overwhelming appetite among the party’s grassroots was to take out the Taoiseach.

Following her meeting with Mr Cowen, Ms Hanafin did not take the bait. Instead she released a short holding statement.

“The Taoiseach is continuing to consult with members of the parliamentary party and I am satisfied that my views will be taken into consideration along with those of my party colleagues,” she said.

She urged Mr Cowen to listen directly to the views of the parliamentary party and not hear their thoughts filtered through cabinet members.

Ms Hanafin evaded the opportunity to declare that Mr Cowen should lead Fianna Fáil into the general election.

Finance Minister Brian Lenihan did not seek out a special meeting with the Taoiseach but the pair agreed to meet for a routine discussion.

Mr Martin remained in Cork and his camp said he would not reveal his intentions until after the Taoiseach had finished speaking with TDs and senators.

Early in the day, Ms Hanafin was one of three Cabinet ministers and a junior minister who crossed paths at the RDS, where they visited stalls at the Young Scientist Exhibition.

Tánaiste Mary Coughlan avoided reporters’ questions but later appeared on RTÉ’s News at One.

She said none of the potential contenders had hinted at her that they were prepared to be disloyal to the party leader and if they were not happy with the decision of Mr Cowen they could put down a motion of no confidence in him.

However, she said she hoped the consultation process and the questions regarding the leadership of Fianna Fáil would be dealt with in dignified way and “as quickly as possible”.

“His decision will always be in the best interests of the parliamentary party,” she said.

Her other cabinet colleagues avoided national media opportunities.

Community Minister Pat Carey met with the Taoiseach on Thursday evening. He did not disclose what happened but indicated that his support for Mr Cowen was a matter of public record.

Ms Coughlan was the most prominent of a small number of supporters of Mr Cowen’s who fought his corner publicly.

Éamon Ó Cuív, a party loyalist, told Newstalk, RTÉ and 4FM that Mr Cowen should remain on as leader and if other ministers did not have confidence in their Taoiseach they should resign.

In Cork, Batt O’Keeffe, a longtime friend of Mr Cowen’s, reiterated his view that nobody was plotting a heave.