Ghosts of missing Greens and silent Government benches

SKETCH:Brian Cowen's absence added to the feeling Fianna Fáil was on its own yesterday, writes MICHAEL O'REGAN

FIANNA FÁIL was on its own yesterday in the aftermath of the publication of the damning official reports into the causes of the banking crisis.

Its Green Party coalition partners could not even muster one TD for the Order of Business and the anticipated announcement by Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny of a motion of no confidence in Taoiseach Brian Cowen.

The Greens’ two senior Ministers, John Gormley and Eamon Ryan, rarely attend at any time for that part of Dáil business which always sees the Government under siege. Is it the calculated avoidance of guilt by association? Fine Gael’s Alan Shatter noted the absence of the Greens.

“They are holding their noses as they digest these reports,” explained Labour’s Joan Burton. “They are in conclave.”

Fianna Fáil backbenchers looked glum, having clearly erased the once-popular Lehman Brothers from the political lexicon used when explaining the reason for the State’s financial woes to embittered constituents.

Minister of State John Moloney, about to take a health debate, sat on the Taoiseach’s seat. He was flanked by Tánaiste Mary Coughlan.

The absent Cowen was Kenny’s target.

Two independent reports, he said, pointed the finger of blame directly at the Government, and directly as a consequence at the person who had driven fiscal and economic policy in the State for a number of years.

“The situation is that if similar reports were produced for any major company in the land, the chief executive would be dismissed forthwith and have to resign,” said Kenny.

The Fianna Fáil backbenchers remained silent as the Fine Gael leader intensified his attack.

The consequences of the actions, or inaction, of the Taoiseach as minister for finance meant that every family in the State carried the burden of €20,000 debt. There was increasing unemployment, said Kenny.

The Government benches were heavy with the silence of the Fianna Fáil backbenchers and the ghosts of the missing Greens.

Kenny went on to suggest mutiny existed within the ranks of the Soldiers of Destiny.

“This morning on Pat Kenny’s radio programme, the Minister for Transport said that people can make their own judgment,” he declared.

“He said we can blame the Taoiseach for leading us into this.”

The Fine Gael leader spoke of a time when those who had warned about our economic downfall were either considered to be guilty of national sabotage or told to go and commit suicide.

It was against that background that he had no confidence in the Taoiseach, he said.

No shouts of support for their beleaguered leader could be heard from the Fianna Fáil backbenchers.

The Tánaiste assured the House that the Government would be fighting back.

Accusing the Opposition of scoring points, she said a “motion of full confidence” in the Taoiseach would be tabled by the Government next Tuesday.

The battle, likely to be bloody and with no prisoners taken, will resume then.

A sighting of Green Ministers and TDs in the Dáil chamber is anticipated.