Tánaiste Mary Coughlan has told the Dail she fully supports the Taoiseach’s version of what happened at the golf outing and dinner at Druid’s Glen in Co Wicklow.
As speculation mounted about Brian Cowen’s leadership and a Fianna Fáil parliamentary party was postponed until 3pm, Ms Coughlan said “the Taoiseach dealt with all these issues in the House yesterday, I fully support his version of what happened and, moreover, others outside of politics have indicated what discussions took place on that occasion”.
She was responding to Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny who asked if the Taoiseach had given her a full account of what happened and if she was happy to accept what he said. When Ms Coughlan said she supported Mr Cowen’s version of events, she added that if Mr Kenny “doesn’t believe the truth that is a sad reflection on a man who purports to be the next taoiseach”.
Mr Kenny said however that Alan Gray, a director of the Central Bank, who attended the function was “invited formally to discuss opportunities and potential for small business, job creation and other aspects of the economy. The Taoiseach said he was there to have a chat with friends.”
He said Mr Gray had a “very different view to what was said in this House yesterday. The Taoiseach said he was shooting the breeze, having a chat with people and that it was purely a social evening. Mr Gray was invited to what appeared to be a formal meeting to give his views on job creation, small business, the economy and incentives for employment, which would be a very worthwhile discussion in its own right.”
The Fine Gael leader added that Anglo Irish Bank chairman Sean Fitzpatrick “said publicly on a number of occasions that his favourite source of investment advice was the Financial Times website and The Economist but that for the real McCoy one cannot beat the 19th hole on the golf course.”
Ms Coughlan reiterated that “the Taoiseach dealt with this matter yesterday and I will not add to it”.