Labour leader Eamon Gilmore today attacked the timing of yesterday’s elections of Taoiseach Brian Cowen and the announcement of his new Cabinet, claiming they were stage-managed to coincide with televised news bulletins.
Comprehensive footage of the key events of the day, including Mr Cowen and his Cabinet getting their seals of office at Áras an Uachtaráin, were beamed live onto RTÉ and TV3.
An angry Mr Gilmore alleged in the Dáil today that Mr Cowen showed disrespect for TDs and warned that such behaviour will lead to more motions of no confidence inthe Coalition in the future. "It was clear what was going on. It was clear that the events here yesterday were timed to coincide with main news bulletins," he said.
"That is very admirable news management and my congratulations to the people who organised that.
"If that practice continues into the future, the members of this Government will be going through those lobbies an awful lot more often than they may like to be."
Tánaiste Mary Coughlan, representing the Government at the Order of Business for the first time in her new role, rejected Mr Gilmore's claims. "Luckily, as a woman of compassion I don't take threats. But I have to say I and the Taoiseach and this Government have the highest regard for this House," she said.
Mr Gilmore replied: "I don't make threats but I do promise that if what happened yesterday is repeated, there will be a consequence for it." The Dún Laoghaire TD said it reminded him of the memo sent to British Government ministers following September 11th that it was a 'good day to release bad news'.
He also criticised yesterday's publication of the Morris Tribunal report as an act of political cynicism. "Its release on the day that a government was being formed was clearly a well news-managed event and it doesn't behove any new practices on the part of this new Government."