Andrews tried to remove top Foreign Affairs man

Attempts have been made by the Minister for Foreign Affairs to remove Mr Padraic MacKernan from the post of secretary-general of the Department.

The Irish Times has confirmed that Mr Andrews offered Mr MacKernan early retirement at the height of the controversies over promotions and transfers earlier this year. Other inducements, such as ambassadorial posts, were also suggested to him to get him to leave his position.

The scale of the rift between the Minister and his secretary-general was openly acknowledged by Mr Andrews in the Dail yesterday, when he admitted that there had been "strains" between Mr MacKernan and himself.

Defending the use of ministerial directives to effect promotions, Mr Andrews denied any suggestion of the politicisation of promotions. "I have no doubt I may have to give further directives to the secretary-general on other matters in future", he said.

In a new twist to the controversy, Mr Andrews also stated that the Tanaiste, Ms Harney, "knew one of the individuals promoted by ministerial direction". Her spokesman later admitted that, before the three promotions, she would have made it clear to Mr Andrews that Mr Niall Holohan had been overlooked. "She did not ask for him to be promoted, but he would have known how highly she thought of him", the spokesman added.

In a separate development, Mr Andrews refused to deny a suggestion by the former Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr Dick Spring, that he (Mr Andrews) had threatened to resign since his appointment. "Deputy Spring must have some information of which I am unaware and have no recollection", he added.

It became clear yesterday that the Minister and Mr MacKernan had not spoken to each other directly since mid-July. Departmental business between the two men is conducted by official intermediaries. The breakdown in relations between the Minister and the secretary-general has also led to the absence of Mr Andrews at important meetings of the ministers and secretaries' group on EU matters.

Following the release by Fine Gael yesterday of an exchange of letters between Mr MacKernan and the Minister, it emerged that Mr Andrews made a series of ambassadorial transfers this summer without prior consultation.

Mr MacKernan, in a letter dated May 26th, told the Minister that he had - two months before writing the letter - submitted, at the Minister's request, a set of proposals which related to particular posts, including a range of options for transfers. "These sought to take account of the individual circumstances, experience and capacities of the officers concerned and the needs of the Department at this time", he stated.

Reflecting the discontent in the diplomatic service, Mr MacKer nan added: "I do believe it is my duty as secretary-general, in view of the deep unhappiness and concern expressed in writing by the majority of the officers involved, respectfully to request that you inform the Taoiseach of their reactions to the transfers envisaged. It is unprecedented that so many senior officers in this Department should be transferred or appointed unwillingly to positions despite their formal misgivings."

Responding to queries about this letter, Mr Andrews said: "I received a letter from the secretary-general advising me to see the Taoiseach, to be a good boy and take on board the concerns expressed about the locations to which people were to be sent."

On the three promotions by ministerial direction, Mr Andrews admitted that three individuals had been considered by the then management advisory committee, "which did not consider any of them to be up to the mark".

Asked why Fine Gael had not until now used the letters which the party had received through the Freedom of Information Act, a spokesman said that they had been waiting to receive further information.