A BITTER pre-election dispute has broken out between Labour supported by Fine Gael and the Progressive Democrats.
The Progressive Democrats' finance spokesman, Mr Michael McDowell, has become the focus of the exchanges and, last night, the Minister for Transport, Energy and Communications, Mr Dukes, joined the fracas by dubbing him "the biggest political cry-baby in Irish politics".
The Minister said: "Methinks the baby doth protest too much."
Earlier, the PD leader, Ms Mary Harney, had accused Labour of engaging in "cheap and childish personality politics" in an effort to save its political skin. She said Labour seemed to be "taking a leaf out of the Tory book" but the party should take note that the "hate-campaign" against Mr Tony Blair had badly back-fired.
"Like the Tories, Labour have obviously run out of steam and are bereft of ideas after spending so long in government," Ms Harney added.
Her comments followed remarks by the Tanaiste, Mr Spring, that Mr McDowell was "very right wing" on health and education services. The Sunday Tribune then quoted a former Government adviser as saying that, by simply repeating Mr McDowell's name to the electorate, the Progressive Democrats would be damaged. The source is quoted as saying: "All they have to do is keep repeating Michael McDowell, Michael McDowell, Michael McDowell".
In her retaliation, Ms Harney claimed Labour was so politically bankrupt it was now resorting to the lowest form of politics - the personal attack.
"Have they nothing better to say for themselves? This is the sort of name-calling which gives politics a bad name and goes down like a lead balloon with members of the public," she added.
However, Fine Gael weighed in behind Labour with a statement from Mr Dukes describing Ms Harney as rushing to defend "her shrinking violet protege on the national airwaves".
"Deputy McDowell has unparalleled access to the media almost every week in a prominent Sunday newspaper and extensive exposure in other branches of the print and broadcast media. He is undoubtedly the PDs' most conspicuous and voluble spokesperson on both the radio and television and is a most accomplished debater who can dish out abuse in unmerciful doses to everyone else," the Minister added.
Yet, when he was himself subjected to "return fire. . . in terms that match his own uncompromising invective" from those he offended, he was quick to run, "like a playground bully", for the shelter of his big sister.
A cursory glance at Mr McDowell's recent repertoire revealed his true nature. In the Dail he had described the Tanaiste, Mr Spring, as "morally brain-dead".
Meanwhile, the Dublin North Central TD, Mr Derek McDowell said the reality behind the PD defence of Mr McDowell against legitimate political criticism was "all too obvious". The party was, in fact, scared of close scrutiny.