FINE GAEL leader Enda Kenny has rejected a call from one of his own TDs for the dismissal of Alan Dukes as party vice-president following the former leader’s criticism of Fine Gael policy for a national recovery bank to deal with the financial crisis.
In a statement issued at the parliamentary party “think-in” at a Co Cavan hotel, Longford-Westmeath TD James Bannon sharply criticised Mr Dukes, who had described the Fine Gael policy in a radio interview as “cumbersome” and lacking the clarity of the Government’s Nama plan.
“Mr Dukes is in no position to make an impartial public statement on Nama,” Mr Bannon said. “He is a Government appointee to the board of Anglo Irish Bank which was bailed at a cost of €3 billion despite the misgivings of those who are footing the bill – the taxpayer.
“The timing for Mr Dukes’s support of this Fianna Fáil proposal is extraordinary given that it follows hot-foot on the pro-Nama remarks of another ex-party leader Garret FitzGerald, who also appears to be dancing to another tune.
“What price party loyalty, Alan? Why weren’t you more vocal on the big beasts of the Irish property sector who attacked the very foundation of this State for their own gain? Why did we not hear from you about the cronyism that is rife in Fianna Fáil and has brought this country to its knees?”
Mr Bannon concluded: “Mr Dukes should under no circumstances be given the option of renewing his role as vice-president of Fine Gael. He should, in fact, be shown the door sooner rather than later.”
At a press conference yesterday at the end of the two-day meeting, Mr Kenny firmly rejected Mr Bannon’s call. “I disagree with James’s statement,” he said.
When it was put to him that, “as a strong leader”, he should force Mr Dukes’s resignation, Mr Kenny replied: “A strong leader made it perfectly clear that this party is not going to be kicked around by anybody. We are perfectly entitled as the major Opposition party to have a point of view.”
The party’s discussion on the banking crisis yesterday morning had gone beyond the allotted time: “Everybody wanted to talk on this,” said Mr Kenny. “The parliamentary party – the Oireachtas party – unanimously adopted a motion reaffirming Fine Gael’s resolute opposition to this proposal.”
Asked if he expected Fine Gael to be able to form a government on its own after the next general election, he replied: “This is not beyond possibility. I would remind you that in an election not so long ago, Fianna Fáil, at 38 per cent of the vote, were within a whisker of having an overall majority.
“In the last opinion poll, Fine Gael were at 34 per cent. We still have strides to make; there are new opportunities for our party out there.We’re going into the next election and we’re very confident of what we can achieve.”
On the Lisbon Treaty, he said Fine Gael would be holding a “national canvass day” on September 26th to promote a Yes vote in the referendum on October 2nd.
“Every Fine Gael member that’s possible will be asked to physically canvass some area and make direct contact on doors with people to stress the importance to them of voting Yes for Lisbon.”
Fine Gael would also be organising a meeting on Lisbon in every constituency on September 21st and he would be embarking on a 20-day tour to promote a Yes vote throughout the State.
He refused to “get into the detail” of the Commission on Taxation report.
Fine Gael would respond later, as part of preparing its own budgetary proposals.
Pressed on the issue of property tax, he said he had not had time to study the manner in which it was presented by the commission but observed that “it does seem as if it’s fraught with great difficulty”.