Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny said the decision by the Taoiseach to abandon Fianna Fáil’s Galway Races tent was an indication of the “serious reservations” that Brian Cowen had about the party’s fundraising over the past few years.
Speaking at the unveiling of his party’s new Lisbon Treaty website, Mr Kenny said: “It may also be an indication that monied builders may not be as prevalent in the future as in the past.”
Noting that the tent issue was a matter for Fianna Fáil, Mr Kenny added that some of the people associated with the party’s fundraising “might not be as welcome now as in previous years”.
“Some of the images that were coming out from the positioning of the tent, . . . and what it meant, obviously have a very different reflection now.”
The Fine Gael leader also remarked it was a privilege to be at the Lisbon event “and not under a threat of being silenced”. Mr Kenny accused the Taoiseach of "conduct unbecoming" and of "bullying tactics" after the pair clashed the Dáil on Wednesday.
European Commissioner Charlie McCreevy said he wouldn’t miss the Galway tent.
Speaking in Dublin today, the former minister for finance noted he was not a great attender over the years and felt obliged to go for “half a day or so” when he was Minister
Mr McCreevy said he preferred to go racing and betting, adding that having to attend the tent was a “terrible pain in the a**se”.
The news about the Galway tent was broken last night by Mr Cowen, who said he intended to introduce a full review of the party's organisation and fundraising.
Mr Cowen, who is intent on projecting a different style to Bertie Ahern, has so far decided only to cancel the tent for this year, but it is unlikely to return once the organisation review is done.
