Green's call on McDowell to withdraw 'fascist' insult

Green Party whip Dan Boyle called on the Tánaiste Michael McDowell to withdraw remarks made in the Dáil today in which he accused Green Party chairman John Gormley of "behaving like a fascist".

In exchanges this morning, Deputy Gormley said that in allocating tax breaks for private nursing homes the Government was putting profit before people.

McDowell said that Deputy Gormley was "blinded by ideology and should stop behaving like a fascist".

The whip said that he will raise the issue of McDowell's comments with the Ceann Comhairle and request that the Committee on Procedure and Privileges convene to discuss the issue as a matter of urgency.

Deputy Boyle said: "This morning's remark is further evidence that the Tánaiste is a loose cannon and has little respect for the conventions of the House.

"This is a minister who accused another colleague of behaving like Joseph Goebbels, another infamous fascist figure. The Tánaiste has apparently learned nothing from that particular episode and feels that he can insult with total impunity."