The Tánaiste has the confidence of her colleagues despite a claim by the dismissed minister John McGuinness, Social and Family Affairs Minister Mary Hanafin said this morning.
Speaking on RTÉ's Morning Ireland radio programme, Ms Hanafin said "I believe that everybody has great confidence in the Tánaiste. The Taoiseach made it very clear yesterday."
Expressing a wish to move on from the public spat with Mr McGuinness, Ms Hanafin said: "We do have a tight majority [in Government]."
"We are dependent as coalition partners and also on independents. These are really difficult times with really difficult, serious, decisions being taken. Each week brings its own problems"
"Our focus as the Government is on ensuring that we get to grips with the issues that are facing the economy in order to protect families all over the country", she said.
The dispute between the two senior Fianna Fáil politicians intensified last night when Mr McGuinness issued a lengthy statement to The Irish Timesin which he elaborated on his claim made on last Friday's Late Late Showthat he confronted Ms Coughlan on her performance.
“I told Mary Coughlan after a meeting in the department which began at 8pm on March 11th, 2009, that I had ‘no confidence in her ability’. I used those words, spoke them clearly and remember them well because I was determined at that time to lay my cards on the table,” he said.
The former minister of state for trade and commerce had previously spoken of “a strong exchange of views” with Ms Coughlan. However, an official statement issued on behalf of Ms Coughlan on Saturday denied the claim.
"While it is regrettable, the Tánaiste feels obliged to clarify the record and confirm that her colleague Deputy McGuinness did not convey the comment made on last night's Late Late Show, or any similar comment, to her in person at any stage.
“The Tánaiste understands the upset that the deputy may be feeling, having lost his position, and that certain things can be said in the heat of the moment.”
Taoiseach Brian Cowen and Minister for Finance Brian Lenihan expressed confidence in Ms Coughlan when questioned on the matter at the weekend. However, some backbench Fianna Fáil TDs have expressed support for Mr McGuinness’s stance.
Tipperary South TD Mattie McGrath said radical thinking was essential in Government departments. Speaking on RTÉ Radio's Marian Finucane Showyesterday, he said Ms Coughlan "did an excellent job in agriculture . . . she doesn't seem to be getting to the same grips with enterprise".
In his strongly-worded statement last night, Mr McGuinness said that, apart from their confrontation on March 11th, his lack of confidence in the Minister, “must have been obvious from our frequent clashes over policy matters, which are known to both the Civil Service and the press”.
He added: “It is possible that the Minister may not have heard me, given that she has heard nothing, and acted on nothing, that business leaders in this country have been telling her, since her appointment.”
Mr McGuinness denied that “sour grapes” lay behind his recent comments about Ms Coughlan and Mr Cowen.
“I have been a politician for 40 years. Triumph, disaster and disappointments come with the job. I am familiar with all of them. It is true that I do not believe that Brian Cowen was right when he did not re-appoint me, but I also accept without qualification that it was his right.”
He said the Taoiseach “must now use all of his abilities to rally this country, so that we can face and overcome the challenges that this extraordinary economic downturn has created”.
Asked by reporters yesterday if there would be disciplinary action against his dissenting former junior minister, Mr Cowen said: “I don’t intend taking this matter any further. It’s been a difficult week for a lot of people.”
Speaking of the Government’s popularity ratings, Mr Cowen said: “Obviously we have a lot of work to do and there are no ‘quick fix’ solutions to the problems that we have, I think most people recognise that. The Government is determined to continue with a consistent policy approach that will bring order to our public finances.”
Asked about Mr McGuinness’s charge that he was not putting country before party, he replied: “I don’t understand that argument, to be honest with you. I mean it’s a question of leading the country and of course leading the party as well. That’s what every elected Taoiseach does.”
Speaking in Killarney on Saturday, Mr Lenihan said the criticisms levelled at the Government by Mr McGuinness were a matter of great regret at a time when everyone should stand together.