Third anniversary passes in barrage of recriminations

Dail Sketch: It was their third anniversary and neither was present. But it had nothing to do with a tiff relating to the proposed third terminal at Dublin airport. Apparently that could be resolved by way of mediation at today's postponed Cabinet meeting.

Bertie Ahern and Mary Harney were abroad, separately, on Government business. So it was left to Government chief whip Tom Kitt to take questions relating to the Taoiseach's department, and Minister for Finance Brian Cowen to field Opposition leaders' questions.

Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny raised the third anniversary of the Government's election, but stressed that there was no cause to celebrate. He listed off a litany of what he considered to be broken promises. "This tired and jaded Government shoves the same old problems aside because it is unable to deal with them."

Mr Kenny suggested that some Ministers had become arrogant and distant from the electorate, adding that they were looking forward to a long rest in Opposition after the people gave their verdict at the next election.

"It is obvious that the third anniversary of the Government's election has upset the leader of the Opposition party," replied Brian Cowen. It seemed Mr Kenny had a dull view of the world.

Pat Rabbitte's view of the coalition's performance was even duller as he challenged Mr Cowen's assertion that the Government's real project-cost overruns due to underestimation was less than 20 per cent.

"That is not true," said Mr Rabbitte.

"I am sorry, but it is true," replied Mr Cowen. "Deputy Rabbitte knows it all. That is the problem with him."

Mr Rabbitte suggested it was time the Minister demonstrated a bit of knowledge about his job and not distort figures.

Mr Cowen claimed that Mr Rabbitte was the best distorter of figures in the business, adding that when he heard something he did not like, "he makes us all out to be cretins and clowns".

Michael McDowell, meanwhile, announced Operation Anvil to deal with organised crime in Dublin, promising that it would be focused, sustained and targeted.

Fine Gael's Jim O'Keeffe, conscious that Mr McDowell may have stolen FG's law and order clothes, said the Minister had stirred himself at long last.

Later, Mr Cowen and Tom Parlon were in the Chamber to defend the Government's record in the face of a Labour Party Private Member's motion critical of its "catalogue of waste".

Labour's Joan Burton observed: "I smiled yesterday when I heard the Taoiseach promise to fight the flab and eliminate obesity. Is he aware that his Department of Education is now building three-storey schools on sites that have been reduced from the standard five acres to three acres?"

And so the anniversary petered out with the Government partners under siege. Perhaps it was just as well the two principals were away.