BOTH COALITION parties have moved to subdue an internal revolt against the decision to nominate the Department of Finance’s secretary general Kevin Cardiff to a senior European job.
Labour MEPs Nessa Childers and Phil Prendergast yesterday criticised Mr Cardiff, the Government’s nominee to the European Court of Auditors in Luxembourg, following last week’s revelation that the national debt had been mistakenly overstated by €3.6 billion.
Taoiseach Enda Kenny last night defended Mr Cardiff. “When you send messages like occurred here, obviously there is an inquiry going on into what exactly happened, I think it might be appropriate at times to send a CC [carbon copy e-mail] to the secretary general of the minister,” Mr Kenny said.
The possibility of double accounting had been flagged in e-mails from the National Treasury Management Agency (NTMA) to the department, but Mr Cardiff last week said the error was never communicated to a more senior level.
Labour MEP Proinsias de Rossa said his colleagues had made a “gross mistake”. Other senior figures, including Minister for Public Expenditure Brendan Howlin and Minister for Communications Pat Rabbitte, backed Mr Cardiff.
Fine Gael MEP Seán Kelly said his attitude to Mr Cardiff had altered following the emergence of the accounting error, which was flagged as a potential issue by the NTMA as far back as August 2010, but not detected by the department until recently.
Mr Cardiff is scheduled to appear before the European Parliament’s budget control committee in Brussels on November 23rd.
“There’s far more known about him now . . . and not to his credit. If he thinks going before the committee will be a doddle, he’s got another thing coming,” Mr Kelly said. He later softened his position, however.
Mr Howlin also endorsed Mr Cardiff. “He is a decent man with a family, with many years of laudatory service . . . he is eminently suited and qualified for the position,” Mr Howlin said.
Mr Rabbitte said members of the European Parliament will be able to question Mr Cardiff at the hearings. “As far as the Government is concerned the decision has been made; Mr Cardiff is not personally responsible for the error that was made.”
Their comments came after Ms Childers said she was “not happy” with the proposed appointment. She added: “I somehow think it is inappropriate in light of everything that has gone on in recent years that he is appointed. What does it say to the Irish people?”
Ms Prendergast said Mr Cardiff had “visited a huge amount of embarrassment on Ireland”. She added: “I wouldn’t like to be going before any committee with €3.6 billion having been lost or misplaced.”
Referring to Mr Cardiff’s stewardship as civil service head of department since 2010, and his senior role there during the boom years, Ms Prendergast said: “He was the chief bottle washer in that department and he’ll have to give an account of himself.”
Defending himself before the Public Accounts Committee last week, Mr Cardiff said: “I have served this country as diligently as I can . . . my record is very solid and very strong.”
Labour Minister of State for Research Seán Sherlock had suggested the Cabinet reconsider the decision to nominate Mr Cardiff.
But a Labour spokesman said the party view was in line with Mr Howlin’s position.
On November 23rd, the budget control committee is due to consider Mr Cardiff’s proposed appointment.