McDowell launches vitriolic attack on Labour Party

Justice Minister Michael McDowell has launched a blistering attack on the Labour Party following its comments about the Progressive Democrats' role in drafting aviation policy.

Labour had said the decision to build a second publicly-owned terminal at Dublin Airport showed that the PDs had been put in their place by Fianna Fáil.

The PDs had wanted a private consortium to build the facility and operate it in competition with the existing terminal.

Asked about Labour's criticism this morning, Mr McDowell launched a vitriolic attack on the party.

"The Labour Party is a party of economic failure which brings slump whenever it gets into office, which doubled the national debt in five years and had this country in 1987 on the front page of the Economist as an example of all that was worst in Europe," he said.

"Now, on the Economist last year, Ireland was an example of all that is best in Europe and the difference is Labour is out and the Progressive Democrats are in."