Focus on Alan Kelly's remarks soon wipes smile from Labour leader's face
Alan Kelly set the cat amongst pigeons last week when he went on Tipp FM to say that he would not support Catherine Connolly’s presidential election campaign. File Picture: PA
There was little Ivana Bacik could do but stand and smile as former Labour Party leader Alan Kelly addressed the media at the party’s think-in. The sincerity of that smile was debatable.
Mr Kelly set the cat amongst pigeons last week when he went on Tipp FM to say that he would not support Catherine Connolly’s presidential election campaign — despite the party voting to.
Labour had much to celebrate as party members gathered in the Abbey Court Hotel in Nenagh, Tipperary, following several good elections last year.
Yet all that could be discussed at the opening press conference was the party’s decision to support Ms Connolly’s campaign. Not a single question was asked about policy.
Mr Kelly’s interview was the main topic of discussion. Ms Bacik smiled and nodded as her former party leader defended his position on Ms Connolly. One of the reasons, he said, was due to Ms Connolly’s decision to nominate Gemma O’Doherty in the 2018 presidential election.
Ms O’Doherty had raised questions about the safety of the HPV vaccine. Mr Kelly was extremely close to CervicalCheck campaigner Vicky Phelan before her death.
More smiling and nodding.
The former and current party leaders had a “frank conversation” following Mr Kelly’s interview. He later expressed regret over his remarks.
Ms Bacik’s smile faded when it was suggested that she had threatened Mr Kelly with pulling the event out of Nenagh if he did not row back on the remarks.
During a robust exchange with the media, she repeatedly refused to answer whether this was the case. Sometimes a non-answer is as good as confirmation.
Ms Bacik faced a barrage of questions about Ms Connolly’s links to Ms O’Doherty, the performance of the presidential hopeful in media interviews, and whether the party would finance Ms Connolly’s campaign.
Despite the questioning, there were very few answers. Other members of the parliamentary party were not smiling.
Despite what the party leadership is saying, multiple Labour members are not happy with the party’s decision to back Ms Connolly. There is particular discomfort with media interviews that she has conducted in recent weeks.
One TD pointed out that Ms Connolly seems to “not remember” a lot of things when she is asked about them.
There was more smiling when Mr Kelly burst into the conference room with the Liam McCarthy Cup and several members of the victorious Tipperary hurling team.
As he called the Cork politicians over to see what could have been, Ms Bacik came over and laid a hand on Mr Kelly’s arm.
“You’ve thrown the cat among the pigeons there,” she told him.
With seven weeks to go in the presidential election, whether he will keep throwing the cat amongst the pigeons is the big question.
