Kenny downplays senior officials’ New York row

Taoiseach Enda Kenny made little yesterday of a public altercation in New York between his top civil servant and Ireland's most senior diplomat in the field.

Secretary general to the Government Martin Fraser sought out Ambassador to the US Anne Anderson in the lobby of Fitzpatrick's Hotel just after midnight on Sunday night in full view of a number of hotel guests and staff.

They proceeded to exchange words for several minutes and, according to observers, were in obvious disagreement with each other. The reasons for the disagreement remain unclear and neither the Government nor the Taoiseach is saying anything about it.

Both Mr Fraser and Ms Anderson were with Mr Kenny yesterday morning when he attended business meetings in New York before his party returned to Dublin.

They stood side by side when Mr Kenny was questioned about the matter by reporters. The Taoiseach’s response was that he had no interest in that kind of thing. “I do not know what you are talking about. I’m here on very different business,” he said.

Asked again whether he had any knowledge of the row or of a dispute between the two officials, Mr Kenny insisted for a second time that he had no idea of what was being raised.

“As far as I’m concerned, every delegation that I go on, we always have healthy conversation about issues of the day so I just don’t know what you’re talking about.”

Mr Fraser, who is also secretary general of the Taoiseach’s Department, is the pre-eminent official figure in the Government and one of Mr Kenny’s closest aides.

He has held the post since August 2011, months after the Coalition took office, and has a pivotal role in Mr Kenny’s political, administrative and economic agenda.

Ms Anderson declined to say anything when asked yesterday about the reasons for the altercation.

In Washington since September, she is regarded as one of the most formidable figures in Ireland diplomatic network and previously served as permanent representative to the UN and to the EU.

As Ambassador to the US, she has a central role in Ireland’s relationship with the Obama administration and the powerful Irish-American community. She is also the leading player in Ireland’s campaign on Capitol Hill for an overhaul of US immigration law.

The public row with Mr Fraser occurred after a dinner on Sunday night in the Smith & Woolensky restaurant after the Taoiseach's party arrived into New York from Boston.

Both were present with Mr Kenny early the next morning at the start of St Patrick’s Day festivities. These began at the official residence of New York mayor Bill de Blasio, after which the official party went to Mass at St Patrick’s Cathedral. Mr Kenny later joined the St Patrick’s Day parade.