Shot at Dusk for the defending the indefensible

Not even the greens could tolerate the arrogance at the end. The suggestion that Willie O’Dea who had paid a significant sum to settle claims of slander was somehow a victim was one that not even John Gormley could swallow. In the end it was the appalling inability on O’Dea’s part to understand his position that did for him. When I heard on Matt Cooper that an unscheduled meeting of the FF Parliamentary Party was being held at teatime and that FF speakers were unavailable for media interviews the writing was on the wall for Willie.

My initial response is that his demeanour reflects a government out of touch. They thought they’d get away with a truncated vote of confidence, that sneering at the opposition sufficed for debate and high handed references to blue shirts, George Lee and the Northern Bank or low handed ones to Gardaí, brothels and ladies of the night would throw enough dirt in the air to see Willie safe just one more time. Did he actually think for one minute that the general public would feel sympathy for a cabinet minister in the most unpopular government ever who settled a claim against him because he claims he is a victim?


There is a view however that being attacked in a personalised way by your political opponents is a plus at an election. I’ve been called a few things in my time, some in public others in private most of them slanderous. I look at them as a badge of honour. Where does public life go if politicians resort to law to financially compensate themselves against the realities of public life? It's likely that a politician other than Willie O'Dea may well have got away with the slander but would many other politicians have had the neck to suggest what Willie did?

The O’Dea affair has actually camouflaged the reality that the government was almost beaten in a vote on the Finance Act today. Had that happened there would have been a General Election and I’d have spent today canvassing. As usual there is a Wexford connection, Enniscorthy’s FF TD John Browne was AWOL for the vote. If George Lee had still been around then the opposition would have won.


Last month Brendan Howlin told the Labour branch that he thought that an election could happen anytime citing “events”! The Williegate affair arose over 24 hours, the fact that he’s gone will introduce a friction between Greens and FF. As with Brian Lenihan Snr and the famous mature recollection affair of 1990, the shafting hurt and we know what happened to Haughey and subsequently that government. When trust goes in a government it hits the rocks. Cllr Quinlivan’s colleagues at Stormont know this only too well. In time tonight’s dramatic events will be seen to be a turning point between Greens and FF.

Willie O’Dea here I come!

Brian Friel’s ground breaking play “Philadelphia Here I come” features a character who spends most of the time centre stage dividing his time between his private self and his public self. He wrestles with himself but in the end there is only one winner.
I think Willie O’Dea can identify with Friel’s character. O’Dea compensated a Limerick SF councillor arising from a malicious claim made by O’Dea about the councillor after gardaí discovered prostitutes working from a property owned by his brother.


O’Dea now accepts that his sworn affidavit on the matter is a “mistake”. Minister O’Dea accepts this because a journalist has a tape recording of O’Dea making remarks that he now accepts are mistaken. However how could a solicitor like Mr O’Dea write an affidavit having been warned about swearing an untruth. But what hasn’t been alluded to is that the SF councillor Quinlivan lost his initial case which relied on the incorrect affidavit.

For the record Minster O’Dea’s affidavit is littered with references to; as a public representative, as a life long democrat, as a Teachtala Dala, remarks that I was entitled to make as a public representative.

The best that FF can come up with to mitigate Willie O’Dea’s latest “mistake” is that Willie exists in a parallel universe to Defence Minster Willie O’Dea where he can divide personal accountability to public accountability of a minister. It’s not the first time that Willie has fallen foul of the microphone. During the Albert Reynolds libel case his contributions in the subsequent Dail Committee investigating the matter had an Old Bailey QC calling for an interpreter. 8 years ago, Willie was caught out by on radio encouraging taxi drivers to protest against his own government’s policy on liberalising licensing.

Fine Gael has now submitted a motion of no confidence in Willie in an attempt to drive a wedge between the Greens and Fianna Fail. It’s not going to happen. It’s a huge change from 20 years ago when FG pursued Jim McDaid on his nomination to the post of Defence Minister because he gave evidence in support of a member of the republican movement in an extradition case. Then they were strongly anti-republican now they are strongly backed by SF!

It’s not quite the head of steam that the McDaid affair built up. The greens are satisfied that the matter has been dealt with to the satisfaction of the court. The Greens are now exhibiting signs of Stockholm syndrome that mirror the symptoms of Munchausen by proxy that FF reps exhibit every day. While the greens are behaving more like FF of old, FF themselves are identifying signs of recovery in the economy that don’t exist. For the greens to jump ship would mean political obliteration so they’ll put up with anything to put off the day when they’re toast.

Indeed Willie is one of those who’re most vocal about the economy recovering and has been touted as a future Minister for Finance. That was until his financial settlement with the SF councillor whose brother is a well known stalwart of the IRA. It’s not the first time that Willie has been before the courts as recently he was involved in a case where a man falsely claimed that O’Dea had struck him.


Regardless of the outcome O’Dea is damaged. But he’s ultimately safe in cabinet. Who’ll rebuke him? Coughlan who bungled jobs at Dublin Ariport, , Martin who sleepwalked around the Gresham giving rise to the organ retention scandal, Harney who presided over mis-diagnosis after mis-diagnosis in the HSE, Dermot Ahern who was up every tree in North Dublin, Dempsey or Gormley, Minister for Snow or indeed the Daddy of them all Brian Cowen who poured petrol on the economic fire 4 years ago?
Anyone familiar with Philadelphia knows that in the end the main character exits. However, I don’t think that Willie will be going anywhere yet!

Mighty Mouse in the constituency but Mini Mouse in Dail Eireann

The late Jim Kemmy once brought howls of laughter to the Dail when he used the above to describe the ceaseless posturing of Willie O’Dea. I am reminded of that gem because I’m worried that some government TD’s may be suffering from nausea after their endless U-turning on Budget ’09. I’m not surprised Brian Lenihan now looks like a rabbit caught in the headlights as a week ago FF back benchers gave him a standing ovation on TV while now they are queuing up to call RTE Radio for a review of the proposed abolition of medical cards for over 70’s.

I’ve always valued FF voters as most are from lifelong FF families. They don’t change their minds often. As someone who wouldn’t change his own vote, I really appreciate if an FF voter says they’ll back you. It’s something I could never say back to FF. I don’t think I’m the only Labour councillor who is getting that type of feedback lately. That’s why I admire Joe Behan and what he did, He’s turned his back on the politics of speaking out of both sides of the mouth. I note Joe Behan mentioned education cuts when he took what is a brave step in slamming the FF door shut behind him. However the focus has deliberately been taken off his courageous action by the smoke and mirrors of other FF backbenchers happy to say anything on the national airwaves on Over 70’s med cards to get the media off their back about every other cut in the budget package.

A week on from the budget and other than1982 I cannot remember a budget that has been as controversial. Medical cards for Over 70’s and the 1% levy grabbed the headlines but as a teacher I always look at education estimates and budgets. What struck me straight off was the clinical shafting of everything that schools try to do. I have never seen such a blatant attack on the majority of second level schools. Cutting every school means that well funded schools lose a little but poorly funded schools lose a lot.

There’s 32 cuts. They include grants for Home Economics, Physics, Chemistry, Equipment for Resource Teachers, Paid cover for teachers out of school on school business, Centre for Talented Youth, Educational Disadvantage Committee, 1,200 second level teaching posts and 200 other primary posts are gone. Funding for English language support teachers, secondary school buildings, LC Applied Programme, LC Vocational Programme, Transition Year, Back to Education Allowance, school libraries, school transport, IT, youth services, traveller education programme is cut. To be fair to FF & The Greens, something’s have gone up. Student Registration fees up to €1.5K, Pupil Teacher Ratio, the retirement age for some teachers and the price of books in disadvantaged schools.
If there’s one that really is beneath contempt it is their decision to postpone the EPSOM Act. This act is a commitment from 2003 and the national euphoria following the Special Olympics in Croke Park. It was a promise to those children with special needs that they would have a right to an education plan for their developmental needs. This act wouldn’t cost a bob but its funding implications for schools and services would presumably put a strain on FF and the Greens need to cut stamp duty for commercial developers or the remove value for money criteria for public contracts for Tom Parlon’s buddies. The reality is that childhood development is not like infrastructure, you cannot delay the emotional development of a child and expect that when resources allow you can come back and start up where you left off. What FF and the greens are going to learn is that school kids are not like bicycles that can be parked in a shed on a wet day and taken out when it’s sunny. This government need grinds on education and I think they’re about to get it! Next week Labour table their motion on class sizes and lets see FF TD’s support their local schools.