Fine Gael says Molloy's resignation the correct decision

Junior Minister Bobby Molloy's decision to resign over the controversy surrounding his approach to a judge in relation to a rape case in the west of Ireland was considered the right thing to do by Fine Gael.

Fine Gael’s Alan Shatter said Mr Molloy has made the correct decision, but he also castigated both Bertie Ahern and Mary Harney for dragging their feet on the issue.

"Fine Gael welcomes the fact that Bobby Molloy has somewhat belatedly recognised that it is impossible for him to continue as a minister in government because of his completely inappropriate actions," he said.

"We believe that the Taoiseach, Bertie Ahern, and the Tanaiste, Mary Harney, now have serious questions to answer. Particularly, they need to explain their conduct of yesterday, in which they appeared to believe it was possible for Minister Molloy to continue in office."

The Fine Gael and Labour leaders also criticised Mr Ahern’s and Ms Harney’s actions. Michael Noonan said: "My regret is that the Taoiseach does not seem to have a moral compass guiding him to arrive at the opinion last night, when every other parliamentarian, apart from himself and the Tanaiste, knew that resignation was inevitable.

"It is appalling that the Taoiseach went to the defence of Mr Molloy. In my view, after five years of it, he is certainly not the man to renew politics in Ireland and to establish new standards."

Labour leader Ruairi Quinn also expressed concern about Mr Ahern’s actions, but he reserved most of his criticism for Ms Harney.

"The Tanaiste exercised a level of political judgement that I think disqualifies her from her ability to hold the office of Tanaiste," he said.

Speaking this morning, Ms Harney, the Progressive Democrats leader, said Mr Molloy was not asked or forced to resign and made the decision himself after considering the matter overnight.

In February, the veteran politician was unanimously selected to contest the upcoming election in Galway west, where he has served for both Fianna Fail and the PDs for 37 years.

His departure has fuelled predictions that Fianna Fail could now take three seats in Galway west and, although the PDs are expected to select a replacement candidate in the coming weeks, that candidate is unlikely to have a profile as high as Mr Molloy’s.