TAOISEACH BRIAN Cowen is facing an unprecedented level of criticism from his own TDs after the Cabinet reshuffle but few of them are prepared to publicly back the call by Kilkenny TD John McGuinness for a change of leader.
There has been strong criticism of Mr Cowen over the past two days from TDs who had formerly supported him, as well as from people like Mr McGuinness and Mattie McGrath who have consistently criticised his leadership. It would take 18 TDs to trigger a motion of no confidence in Mr Cowen and while that is not expected to happen Fianna Fáil deputies in Leinster House yesterday were scathing in their criticism.
“It has got to the stage where I have no doubt that more than 18 TDs have lost confidence in the Taoiseach but I can’t see many of them being prepared to sign a motion,” said one TD who has consistently defended Mr Cowen and Government policy.
After calling on Mr Cowen to quit, Mr McGuinness warned that he may withdraw his support for the Government if Mr Cowen does not respond adequately to the criticisms of his leadership.
Mr McGuinness said there was no passion or energy in Mr Cowen’s leadership and he urged senior figures with leadership ambitions in Fianna Fáil to challenge Mr Cowen.
Mr McGuinness said he intended to raise the issue at the Fianna Fáil parliamentary party meeting next week. He has warned that he may withdraw his support for the Government if Taoiseach Brian Cowen does not respond adequately to the criticisms of his leadership. He added that it would be a poor reflection on the party if it did not respond to the problems of leadership that were now obvious.
Party sources were agreed last night that there was little chance 18 TDs would sign such a motion. Speaking in Brussels where he is attending the EU summit, Mr Cowen dismissed the attack as a personal opinion. “I obviously refute and reject the contentions he makes,” Mr Cowen told reporters.
“Obviously, as he says himself, he’s expressing a personal opinion. My focus at the moment is on continuing to lead the country and the Government with the very serious challenges we continue to face,” he said.
Asked if he enjoyed overwhelming support within Fianna Fáil following his reshuffle, the Taoiseach said the “vast, vast majority” of people in Fianna Fáil were team players who understood the context in which this Government was operating.
In Leinster House yesterday discontented Fianna Fáil backbenchers were expressing their unhappiness with the Taoiseach quite openly. “He’s lacking passion, enthusiasm and hunger for the job. If we had 15 Barack Obamas on the front bench, he’d stifle that work ethic. People have to feel the leader’s shoulder is at the wheel,” one TD said.
Limerick West TD John Cregan was said by many to be one of those particularly unhappy with the reshuffle. Mr Cregan, who was first elected to the Dáil in 2002, gave an interview to the Limerick Leaderexpressing his frustration at being overlooked for a junior ministerial post, saying that he had "done everything that's been asked of me".
Some long-serving deputies, traditionally loyal to Mr Cowen, such as Carlow-Kilkenny TD MJ Nolan, also caused some surprise by speaking out. Mr Nolan, who was first elected to the Dáil in 1982, was annoyed the Greens had been given a second junior minister “at Fianna Fáil’s expense”. Among those also critical of the reshuffle were Mr Nolan’s constituency colleague Bobby Aylward. All three TDs from Carlow-Kilkenny were reported to be furious at the promotion of Green Party constituency TD Mary White to a ministerial post while they were overlooked.
Other TDs to express annoyance in public were Tipperary North TD Máire Hoctor, Donegal North East TD Jim McDaid, and outspoken Tipperary South TD Mattie McGrath.
However, Meath West TD Johnny Brady said he was “100 per cent” behind Mr Cowen’s decisions. Limerick West TD Niall Collins said he was “four-square behind” Mr Cowen.