Analysis: Gilmore’s parting shot at old enemy

It is always interesting to observe a politician like Tánaiste Eamon Gilmore who is, in his own words, working out his notice.

Politicians in the current Labour Party leader’s position are routinely, and cruelly, described as “lame ducks”.

As is probably proper, Mr Gilmore appears to have entirely detached himself from the ongoing hustings that will influence Labour members choosing his replacement.

This morning, he seemed genuinely unaware of Jack O’Connor of Siptu’s controversial “so be it” comment at the weekend.

(The union’s general secretary said the new Labour Party leader needs to insist there is no more unnecessary austerity as long as the public finances remain on their present trajectory.

If Fine Gael would not go along with that, heralding the end of the Government, “then so be it”, Mr O’Connor added.)

Mr Gilmore today delivered a reflective speech to open a conference at the Institute for British-Irish Studies at UCD, where it was acknowledged that he had made “strong and determined efforts, often below the public radar” in pursuit of peace.

Afterwards I asked him about a number of issues of the day. While he had a blank reaction to Mr O’Connor’s remark, things were different when talk turned to the banking inquiry.

He reacted strongly to Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin’s claim that the public was losing confidence in the banking inquiry.

“Some people have an interest in making sure that there isn’t a banking inquiry,” Mr Gilmore said. “I think first to the table on that is Fianna Fáil. Sure they don’t want a banking inquiry at all.”

Taosieach Enda Kenny and Mr Gilmore spoke by phone yesterday ahead of the Fine Gael leader’s departure for Lebanon.

Their unexpected decision not to apply the whip to the six Coalition members of the now 11-person committee was seen as an effort to salvage the inquiry’s reputation.

This followed Independent TD Stephen Donnelly’s resignation, the latest in a series of rows that has dogged the investigation before it begins its work.

Mr Gilmore’s no-holds-barred comments this morning showed some of the old spark he employed so effectively in the Dáil in the dying days of the last administration.

A parting shot at the old enemy perhaps?