McDaid resignation fuels election demands

The clamour for a general election intensified tonight after renegade TD Jim McDaid quit politics, accusing the Government of failing to take tough decisions.

The former minister told Taoiseach Brian Cowen that voters should have their say before he attempts to enforce the most devastating Budget cuts in the history of the State.

Despite Dr McDaid’s resignation, leaving four Dáil seats empty, the Government insisted it had not been relying on his support for a shaky majority just one above the now-crucial 81 seats.

In a letter to the Taoiseach last week, Mr McDaid said the country was facing uncertainty in the spring unless a new government was voted in.

“At this point I believe that it is in the best interests of the people of Ireland that the Government of Ireland has a working majority in the Dáil of at least 20 seats, even if that Government is comprised of parties who have traditionally stood in opposition to Fianna Fáil,” Mr McDaid said.

“And I hope that Government will have the strength to take on their obvious responsibilities, free from the shackles of social partnership and political Dutch auctions.”

The High Court will rule tomorrow on whether the Government should be forced to set a date for at least one by-election, Donegal South-West. Three others are now pending – Waterford, Dublin South and Dr McDaid’s Donegal North-East.

Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny backed the GP’s general election challenge, accusing the Government of cowardice.

“The fact is Taoiseach you continue to brazen it out as head of Government, a position where you should realise you no longer have a valid authority to govern,” Mr Kenny said.

He said nobody believed the Government anymore, claiming it was bizarre that the number of vacant seats exceeded the Government’s working majority.

Government Chief Whip John Curran insisted the coalition was stable going into one of its toughest months in office as it prepares a four-year savings plan and €15bn cuts.

“Although the Government has not being relying on Jim’s vote in the Dáil for a period, I have always maintained a strong working relationship with him,” Mr Curran said.

He revealed the writ for three by-elections – Waterford, Donegal South West and Dublin South – would be moved in the Spring.

Dr McDaid, a Letterkenny GP, steps down after 21 years in the Dáil and a colourful career serving at Cabinet and on the backbenches, as well as his last two years as an Independent. In his letter of resignation he cited personal reasons for stepping down.

He was Tourism Minister from 1997 to 2002. He was convicted of drink-driving after a truck driver blocked his path as he travelled the wrong way down the Naas Road after a day out at Punchestown races.

Dr McDaid was widely expected to stand down at the next election.

In his letter to the Taoiseach, the Donegal TD said that despite some courageous and difficult decisions and the need to set tough savings targets, no significant progress had been made in reducing the Exchequer deficit.

He also accused the Government of taking political soft options and not tackling the real issues.

Tánaiste and Donegal TD Mary Coughlan dismissed her former colleague’s criticisms.

“We are in the course of making decisions and that’s why the Government is taking an inordinate amount of time and effort in preparing our four year plan and our budget.”

Ms Coughlan said Fianna Fáil would field a candidate in Donegal South West but no decision had been made for Donegal North East.

Dr McDaid had been outside the Fianna Fail fold after being one of the most vocal opponents of the Government’s decision to limit the cervical cancer vaccine. He abstained on a vote on the programme in 2008.

More recently he threatened to vote against the Budget unless his local Letterkenny General Hospital was protected from cuts.

Mr McDaid accused the Government of pursuing the path of least resistance and said it was “focusing on what is politically possible rather than what is economically necessary”.

He listed several grievances and claimed the Government opted for cuts to frontline hospital services rather than reducing public sector pay numbers. He also criticised Ireland for having the second highest minimum wage in Europe while the workforce is hit by 14% unemployment.

Mr McDaid claimed that only a limited number of the recommendations of the An Bord Snip Nua report have been implemented.

He said he believed the European Central Bank, the European Commission and the bond markets had no confidence in Ireland.

Labour’s Emmet Stagg said the resignation was another nail in the coffin of a discredited and inept Government.