Glum Government sees it fall apart

A very different kind of week had been planned by the Taoiseach and the Government. Bertie Ahern was to fly to New York today to attend a UN meeting on HIV Aids, mixing with senior world leaders. An address to the General Assembly was pencilled in for Friday.

Meanwhile, the Dáil was to be adjourned for a week, leaving Mr Ahern and his Ministers free from Opposition assaults on a variety of issues.

A chance for some positive publicity for Mr Ahern and an escape from a parliamentary mauling for his colleagues would have been welcome after negative opinion polls for the Government. Yesterday it all fell apart.

Mr Ahern leaves for New York with the demand that the Dáil be recalled to process legislation arising from court decisions relating to the constitutionality of statutory rape.

Yesterday an angry Opposition demanded to know what the Government was going to do about the High Court's release of Mr A.

"If the Taoiseach thinks he can fly away to America tomorrow morning, avoid Leaders' Questions and, more disgracefully, put this House into recess for 10 days, he really has lost touch with the people of this country," said Labour leader Pat Rabbitte.

"This House, particularly this side of the House, will not tolerate circumstances where an issue like this confronts the parents of this country while he puts this House into recess."

In a raised voice Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny asked what the Government was going to do to protect society from Mr A.

"He filled a young girl of Confirmation age with drink and had sex with her. That person will be out in society."

The Taoiseach, flanked by Tánaiste Mary Harney, Minister for Justice Michael McDowell and other Ministers, looked as glum as his colleagues.

As the Opposition deputies intensified their attack, Mr McDowell occasionally whispered information to Mr Ahern and passed him a note.

Mr McDowell was as much a target as Mr Ahern on the part of an Opposition scenting blood.

The Taoiseach said the Government would endeavour to have the legislation by the weekend, and would recall the Dáil next week if that deadline was met.

"Deputy Rabbitte will appreciate that I am unlikely to be drafting it in the 46 hours or so I am in the United State, but I will be back by the weekend and we can clear it then."

Nobody on the Opposition benches was listening when Mr Ahern remarked: "I am trying to deal with a serious issue in a serious way and not just make partisan points."

Later, amid further recriminations, the House discussed a Fine Gael Private Member's Bill to deal with the issue.

By then, the Minister with the best Government gig yesterday, Brian Cowen of Finance, was in Knock to celebrate 20 years of the local airport. He was happy, no doubt, to flee to Connacht from the Government's Dáil hell.