Lowry tries to cut down FF’s ‘Steve Silvermint’
The Independent TD took his best stab at it yesterday.
Mr Lowry was angry at the fact that Fianna Fáil was among the parties leading the charge to censure him.
In particular, he bitterly resented the manner in which he was being condemned by Mr Martin.
The latter had, of course, been a long-standing member of the previous Fianna Fáil-led government which was happy to rely on Mr Lowry’s support for years.
Mr Martin had also served alongside then Taoiseach, Bertie Ahern, despite the tales heard at the Mahon Tribunal about briefcases stuffed with cash and money won on the horses.
One of the big problems facing Fianna Fáil as it attempts to rebuild and restore its image is the fact that the party has as leader a man very closely associated with the failings of the Ahern and Cowen governments.
Communications Minister Pat Rabbitte took some satisfaction in pointing this out during the debate on Wednesday night, claiming that Mr Martin was “the leading graduate of the academy of financial jiggery pokery that was Fianna Fáil for so many years”.
“He comes in here, puts on his Mother Teresa face and starts lecturing us on these issues,” Mr Rabbitte added to guffaws around the chamber.
Mr Lowry picked up on this theme yesterday — but did so with barely concealed fury rather than the gleeful relish of Mr Rabbitte.
He accused Mr Martin of “posturing”, and warned that his “clean-cut Steve Silvermint image” wouldn’t last.
“It won’t be long for the wraps to come off that. I’m sure we won’t have to wait too long before some other report or issue comes before the house,” Mr Lowry said in a thinly veiled reference to the Mahon Report on Bertie Ahern’s travails.
“When the wraps come off, I don’t think it will be smelling of mint for either Deputy Martin or any of his colleagues in the party who are so anxious to condemn me.”
Mr Lowry also railed against Sinn Féin, saying that listening to Mary Lou McDonald talking about “natural justice” made him want to “retch”.
Nobody on the Government benches voiced their approval, but there was little doubt that at least some Fine Gael and Labour TDs were in silent agreement. They might not think much of Lowry but they share with him a disdain for Fianna Fáil and Sinn Féin.
Having a skill for oratory does not equate to being a good politician. But it was a strong performance from Mr Lowry which reminded onlookers of the glittering career that once seemed ahead of him.
He had been given the opportunity to speak, of course, because the Dáil was about to censure him, and it was felt by the Ceann Comhairle that as the condemned man, Mr Lowry deserved a chance to make a final stand.
He spoke emotionally about the effects of being under the spotlight of a state tribunal for 14 years.
“There has not been a day in those 14 years when I was not abused verbally or vilified. To be blunt about it, there were times when I felt humiliated. In that regard, I thank the members of this House who have shown kindness to me and I thank my family and friends for the support they gave me in very difficult times.”
But in the end, the speech counted for little. The motion of censure was put to the House without a vote, meaning TDs simply had to voice their agreement for the motion of censure to be passed. They didn’t do so well on the first attempt, muttering “agreed” when the motion of censure was put by Ceann Comhairle Sean Barrett, almost as if they were embarrassed to be driving in the stake.
It forced Mr Barrett to try again, and this time the word “agreed” echoed around the chamber. Mr Lowry was duly censured. But he ignored his fellow TDs’ call on him to resign.
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