DÁIL SKETCHEamon Gilmore has crushed the Taoiseach's hopes for a meaningful relationship, writes Michael O'Regan
IN HIS early days as Taoiseach, Brian Cowen had positive words to say to Labour while dismissing Fine Gael with a metaphorical wave of the hand.
It was seen as an investment in a putative political love-in, which might, if needed, yield an FF-Labour alliance in the fullness of time.
It has all ended in tears, with Labour leader Eamon Gilmore repudiating the Taoiseach's political advances in no uncertain terms.
Yesterday, wearing a thunderous expression, Gilmore again accused Cowen of being responsible for the economic downturn.
Minister for Justice Dermot Ahern, with the air of a man who never uttered a politically partisan word in his career, accused Gilmore of attempting to turn the economic situation to his own political advantage.
"From the best of times, the Government has worked the country and the public finances back into the red," said Gilmore, ignoring the Minister.
"If I had been on the benches opposite for 11 years, like the present Government, I would not turn around, pathetically, to ask the Opposition if it has any ideas that can dig it out of the hole." The Taoiseach replied: "I stand over my own record." There was a good turnout of Cowen's backbenchers, but many had little enthusiasm for heckling the Opposition.
Some wore glum expressions, knowing that they leave for their constituencies today with the reality of the exchequer returns ringing in their ears.
Fine Gael was pleased to see the Labour repudiation of the Taoiseach's advances of such a relatively short time ago when he was in the glow of a brief honeymoon.
The Mullingar accord might be dead, but Gilmore clearly feels that the idea of Fianna Fáil overtures, with the country sinking, beats Banagher.
"Hear, hear," said Fine Gael's Brian Hayes, as Gilmore pursued Cowen.
Lucinda Creighton added her "hear, hear".
Glaring in the Taoiseach's direction, Gilmore exclaimed: "He is full of bluster. Bluster will not get him out of this."
Conceding that he was "not a millions person", Gilmore warned if services promised in the disability area failed to materialise, he would be asking the Taoiseach about them morning after morning.
"Hear, hear," Brian Hayes repeated.
Cowen claimed that the Government had created 600,000 jobs in the past 10 years.
"Business created those jobs," snapped Gilmore.
Cowen said that Gilmore had "a different comfort zone" to deal with, but he would handle his job as Taoiseach as he saw fit.
The putative political romance is over, with no hope of a reconciliation this side of a general election.
The Taoiseach has retreated to the bosom of his current Coalition family, the PDs, Greens and Independents, his pockets near empty, and the largesse of his days in the Department of Finance a distant memory.
I wonder is Bertie Ahern glad to be away from it all?
