O'Dea gun photograph a 'tasteless stunt'

Minister for Defence Willie O'Dea was accused of engaging in an "ill-judged, tasteless stunt" through a newspaper photograph yesterday showing him pointing an automatic pistol.

Labour Party leader Pat Rabbitte accused the Minister of making guns a "matter of frivolity at a time when two warring gangs are feuding and risking public safety on the streets of this city".

He said "the photograph on the front page of today's edition of The Irish Times is, at minimum, an ill-judged, tasteless stunt by a Minister mad on publicity and completely without regard for the environment in which he permits this to happen".

The photograph was taken during an Army exercise at the Curragh camp in Co Kildare. Mr O'Dea suggested that "Deputy Rabbitte should take the matter up with the editor of The Irish Times".

Green Party leader Trevor Sargent accused the Government of promoting gun culture through the photograph, which was also used in a number of other newspapers. Mr Sargent was ruled out of order when he demanded a special debate to "allow the Minister for Defence to explain why he allowed himself to be photographed pointing a gun at a cameraman, and to hear the Government policy on how it can reconcile this promotion of a gun culture with the horrific shootings and escalating levels of violent crime occurring on a day-to-day basis".

Mr Sargent said that "the Minister should have considered his responsibilities", but was ruled out of order when he repeatedly tried to get a Government response. "Are we to expect any ministerial accountability?" he asked.

Fine Gael deputy leader Richard Bruton suggested that "the editor should know the Minister is a clown". The Ceann Comhairle ruled the issue as inappropriate during the Order of Business, which was taken by Tánaiste Mary Harney.

Labour's justice spokesman Joe Costello referred to proposals that the Minister for Defence was going to amend incitement to hatred legislation in the wake of the controversial comments last week by a Muslim lawyer about Ireland as a "legitimate" target for al-Qaeda. Mr Costello said the photograph of the Minister might be described as provocative. "It might be the first case to be examined," he suggested.

Socialist Party TD Joe Higgins (Dublin West) provoked huge laughter when he asked the Tánaiste: "Did you as a matter of Dáil security at least require the Minister to leave his weapon at the door this morning?" Minister of State Seán Power quipped that Mr O'Dea "left it beside your handcuffs".