O Cuiv position secure despite fury at No vote

The position of the Minister of State for Agriculture and Rural Development, Mr Eamon O Cuiv, will not be threatened by the Taoiseach, despite Mr O Cuiv's declaration that he voted against the Nice Treaty.

There was ill-disguised fury after Mr O Cuiv's revelation on TG4 last Friday, though senior political figures believe his step will be seen as a maverick action, even within Fianna Fail.

"If he had had the courage of his convictions then he would have said what he said before the vote, and not after it," one Government source complained.

The Minister of State will be invited to meet Mr Ahern on the issue later this week, it has been confirmed.

"That would be helpful," said the Government spokesman. However, there had been no contact between Mr Ahern's office and Mr O Cuiv up to yesterday afternoon.

The key to the Galway West TD's future lies in his not adding fuel to the flames. "This isn't being taken seriously. This is Eamon being Eamon. If he returns to it, though, there could be a problem," one Cabinet member said. In a first signal that Mr O Cuiv is heeding this message, he refused to entertain questions yesterday about why he had voted No.

In his TG4 interview, he said he objected to EU bureaucrats getting more power. Yesterday, he referred The Irish Times to TG4. "I explained my position in great detail on my attitude to the Nice Treaty in that interview. Some of it was not used," he said.

"A citizen has the right to vote whatever way he, or she, likes. A minister is also a citizen, besides being a minister."

Mr O Cuiv's statement earlier this year that he was unhappy about the usefulness of his post as Minister of State in the Department of Agriculture also was controversial.

He defended his decision, however, to reveal his vote to TG4. "I suppose that I am one of those people who tells things as they are, who doesn't hide their view. Most people would have known what my view was anyway. If people want to attack me, fine. It is part of politics to get attacked."

He said he had adhered to the Government's campaign over the past month "as I was obliged to do, and as I accept that I am obliged to do". He added: "If I had done it before, of course it would have made a big difference.

"But now the decision is taken. The Treaty of Nice referendum campaign is over - is over. It isn't going to be influenced by any decision that I made," he said, speaking from his home in Co Galway.

Asked how he would stand if the Government decided to put a revamped referendum to the electorate, he said sharply: "We do not know what will be put before the people. I have given no indication about how I will stand in any future referendum."

Fine Gael's deputy leader, Mr Jim Mitchell, acknowledged that Mr O Cuiv was regarded as an independent thinker, but he said a TD simply could not serve as a minister and simultaneously oppose fundamental government policy. "Eamon O Cuiv should be honourable enough to resign if he disagrees with Government policy on Nice, and if he doesn't, the Taoiseach should show him the door," Mr Mitchell said.

A Labour Party spokesman said it was "appalling" in its view that a Government minister had voted against the treaty in contrast to stated Government policy.