Miriam Lord's Week

Hunt over for Labour’s Tommy Broughan, Irish Times columnist gives it straight to FF, Ginger spices up Limerick expansion debate

No love’s labour lost as Tommy back in fold

THE PRODIGAL returns. Tommy Broughan is back within the fold of the Labour parliamentary party. He lost the whip three months ago after he voted with the Government to ban stag hunting.

However, a suitable period of time has elapsed since the principled deputy for Dublin North East dirtied his bib by holding true to Labour’s long-held policy on bloodsports.

Tommy was the only one who emerged with honour after the incident, when senior party figures admitted their decision not to back the ban was taken for political reasons in an attempt to embarrass the Green/Fianna Fáil Coalition.

But rules is rules and Tommy had to go. He should have walked from his nice office on the fifth floor too, but it was decided it would be unfair to discommode his staff, who had done nothing wrong. All in all, it was a very civilised spell in the wilderness. At Tuesday night’s parliamentary party meeting, Deputy Broughan’s letter seeking readmission was read and it was unanimously agreed to welcome him back to the mother ship.

Not that anyone thought he was gone.

FF’s non-dissident arm on edge of their seats

Fianna Fáil’s Lemass group of deputies and Senators who insist they are not dissidents met on Wednesday to hear Noel Whelan tell them about their election prospects.

By all accounts, the barrister, political analyst and Irish Timescolumnist didn't sweeten the pill for his audience. He told them how many seats they could expect to lose and where.

Whelan, who ran for Fianna Fáil in 1997, acknowledged the irony of a failed general election candidate giving advice to sitting TDs on how to keep their seats. However, as he marshalled his facts and laid them before the despondent deputies, few quibbled.

He told them to target their audience and get out and canvass – doh! Meanwhile, earlier in the day, Minister Brian Lenihan was star turn at the inaugural meeting of his parliamentary party’s new sub-committee on finance. Lenihan, who was just back from his trip to America, addressed a meeting of those colleagues brave enough to listen to more updates on the economy.

Dublin North Deputy Darragh O’Brien has been appointed chairman of the sub-committee. Darragh, by the way, raised a laugh during the week when he called Eamon Gilmore and Joan Burton “the Paul Daniels and Debbie McGee of Irish politics”. In a press release, he commented: “With no tax increases and no cuts, Labour’s response to the deficit ‘must be magic’.”

Enda takes Manhattan without missing beat

Apparently Enda Kenny had a packed programme on his visit to New York. He was keynote speaker at the Irish Chamber of Commerce’s Celtic Ball in the Waldorf Astoria on Thursday night.

Yesterday, the Fine Gael leader addressed the Ireland Fund’s Leadership Forum and he also had meetings with the Irish Lobby for Immigration Reform and IDA representatives in the United States. We hear he went down well in the Waldorf – although nobody in

Fine Gael has been bothered enough to tell us so.

Brian Cowen only has to look sideways at the Chamber of Commerce dinner and his publicity machine goes into overdrive.

At least Enda seems pleased with his performance. As he traversed Manhattan yesterday, he rang an acquaintance in Dublin and chirruped: “I’ll show Mary Coughlan how many meetings you can have in America without missing a Dáil day.”

Martin gets Border wires crossed

Not so long ago, Fianna Fáil was talking up a storm about building their organisation in Northern Ireland.

Only last July, the Taoiseach travelled to south Armagh where he opened a party office in Crossmaglen. At the time, he said the party’s main objective is to establish a forum in each county along the lines of those already set up in Armagh, Down and Fermanagh. Contesting elections was something the party would decide on in the future, he added.

Micheál Martin was in Belfast this week, but he didn’t appear fully up to speed on his party’s cross-Border project.

The Irish Newsreported on Wednesday how the Minister for Foreign Affairs was asked if he had met one of Fianna Fáil's most high-profile recruits in the North. Gerry McHugh, an Independent MLA and former Sinn Féin activist, made headlines when he joined the Soldiers of Destiny.

According to the newspaper: “Mr Martin paused, before being prompted by an adviser that the independent Fermanagh and South Tyrone assembly member had become a member of the party last December.”

“‘Have I met Gerry? I haven’t, no,” he said. He said he was of the view that “while the Fianna Fáil voice is valid and present in, for example, the universities, we have to be very careful before we get involved in the electoral process.” Micheál has enough election worries of his own in Cork without having to think what might or not be happening to party members in Fermanagh/South Tyrone.

Bumpkins see red over Ginger’s comments

John Gormley might have to take out the Belvedere Bond and Biro again and write a note on consensus to Limerick City Council, where the urban/rural divide is causing some angst.

He may not find the local politicians as amenable as Brian Cowen. Limerick's coat of arms bears the motto: ' Urbs antiqua fuit studisque asperrima belli' – An ancient city well-versed in the art of war, and a proposal to establish a single authority for all of Limerick has some city councillors in extremely bellicose mood.

At a special meeting on Monday, they discussed proposals from a taskforce chaired by ex-Kerry Group chief Denis Brosnan, to merge the city and county councils and extend the boundary into parts of county Clare.

Labour councillor and former Irish rugby international prop, the Triple Crown-winning Gerry “Ginger” McLoughlin, is leading the fight.

"These country bumpkins have no regard for Limerick!" he cried. "They have destroyed the city with the planning and are no friends of ours. We are not here to serve Newcastle West, or other places in the arsehole of County Limerick. I am a city man – I don't go down there, and have no time for them." We see from yesterday's Limerick Leaderthat Ginger/Loughie's comments "sparked outrage" among the county councillors. An immediate apology was demanded.

“This is not the arsehole of Limerick” thundered Cllr Jerome Scanlon, who represents the Newcastle West area. “I would be delighted to invite Cllr McLoughlin out to the Kilmeedys and the Dromcolloghers of this world so he can see first hand what they have done for themselves.” Back in town, Cllr Orla McLoughlin, an unrepentant urbanite, pointed out that if the proposal goes ahead the county councillors will be in the majority.

“Why would we want a rural kingdom of Limerick?” she asked. If the county and city authorities are merged “teething problems will develop into turf wars, leading to migraines and cancerous results.” A colleague said Denis Brosnan’s report read like the work of a “mad scientist”. It did not go unnoticed at the meeting that Brosnan not only comes from Kerry, but a rural part of Kerry, to boot.

Meanwhile, as the city fathers fear they will be overrun by bumpkins from down the road, their next-door neighbours held a protest march against the proposed new boundary with the rallying call “Save Clare from Limerick!” Minister for the Environment Gormley, who went to school in Limerick’s St Munchin’s College on the Clare border, is due in the city next Friday to open the refurbished Milk Market. In the meantime, he is sticking with the soft option – national consensus.

Consensus in the midwest? No chance.

Catherine hits right note at moving memorial

A memorial mass was held in Dublin on Wednesday for the late Liam Coady, Enda Kenny’s long-time friend and driver who died suddenly two months ago.

St Teresa's Church in Clarendon Street was packed for the service, which was attended by almost all of the Fine Gael parliamentary party, as well as current and former members of staff. Catherine Byrne, TD for Dublin South Central, sang a number of hymns including Ave Maria, Nearer my God to theeand Pie Jesu.

“It was a moving occasion, and Catherine’s beautiful singing gave expression to the deep feelings and emotion felt by those in attendance,” said one Deputy.

Rabbitte ready to run amok in Ó Cuív debate

NUIG’s Alumni Association holds its 19th “Big Debate” in Dublin’s Davenport Hotel on Tuesday night. Minister Éamon Ó Cuív and Labour’s Pat Rabbitte will be locking horns on the motion: “The Government’s Economic and Banking Policies are working.” That’ll be a tricky one for Ó Cuív.

RTÉ’s Seán O’Rourke is in the chair, and the evening will be run in the style of an American presidential debate, with each man given an initial 12-minute slot before questions are taken. They’ll only be drawing breath after 12 minutes, so O’Rourke will have to be strict. Particularly with Rabbitte.

“It will be very orderly” promises the broadcaster, lying through his teeth.

Publishers keen to score with ballsy Dáil tale

With Christmas on the way, the books are coming thick and fast. Irish publishers continue their fascination with politics as the public appetite for reading about our political past and present shows no sign of waning.

Latest to hit the shops is Dáil stars: from Croke Park to Leinster Houseby journalist Conor McMorrow, who opens a fresh seam with his exploration of how the GAA has been a breeding ground for Irish politicians.

McMorrow has come up with the novel idea of picking his team of political All-Stars (and also-rans), and it includes the likes of Dan Spring, Jimmy Deenihan, Martin Ferris, Des Foley and Jack Lynch.

Among the many yarns in the book, he tells how Eoin O’Duffy, founder of the Blueshirts and former Ulster GAA secretary, invited a Nazi spy to an All-Ireland final. Mayo football great and Enda’s father Henry invited TDs to his own “all-night wake” in the Dáil bar. Martin Ferris was on the run in more ways than one when he managed to win an U-21 medal with Kerry.

And McMorrow tells how Fianna Fáil’s Sean Flanagan – “the GAA’s original Roy Keane” – tried to scrap his own department when he was minister for lands in 1969.

Sounds like a good read.

Labour and Sinn Féin have Donal Óg goal

Still on the subject of sporting heroes, triple All-Ireland medal winner Donal Óg Cusack is the perfect trophy candidate for any political party seeking a new face for their general election posters.

The outspoken Cork hurler was invited by Sinn Féin recently to address the An Phoblacht Autumn School in Ballyvourney.

In his speech, the 33-year-old goalkeeper warned that the country needs to refocus on the delivery of social justice. “We cannot simply change the government, prosecute a few bankers and hope that we will have a different Ireland. This country’s golden circle has always been underpinned by our pervasive ‘gombeen culture’,” he said. Donal Óg made headlines last year when he confirmed he is gay, becoming the first elite Irish sports star to do so.

Now, it’s rumoured that both Sinn Féin and the Labour P-arty are hoping the charismatic Cusack will sign for them during the pre-season transfer window. But he has scotched the rumours, saying he wants to concentrate on his hurling career and the All-Ireland campaign. A brave decision, what with Cork facing Tipperary in the first round of the Munster championship next year. A tilt at winning a Dáil seat in Cork East might be the easier option.

Cowen’s web of intrigue rebranded

The merrionstreet.ie website has been universally derided as the Coalition’s online Pravda. Now, the Government’s good news propaganda dump – soft interviews with the Taoiseach conducted by a Government official are the order of the day – has been given a new name. It’s the BBC: aka “Broadcasting Brian Cowen.”

Correspondents flushed with success

Congratulations to RTÉ’s Eileen Dunne who was elected international president of the Association of European Journalists at its annual congress in Ordu, Turkey, last week.

This representative body is almost as prestigious as the Political Correspondents committee, established this week in Leinster House. This column is affiliated to neither, but we hear the new committee swung into action after their female wing was suddenly barred by an official from using the ladies loo in their Molesworth Street offices.

The outraged commentators (ladies and gents) went on the offensive as news of lavatorygate swept the corridors of power. Protests were made at the highest level. As we go to press, we understand facilities have been restored.

The ladies are most relieved and the pol corrs are flushed with success.

Poster Boy: Model of mellowness Cowen escapes flashing bulbs:

TAOISEACH BRIAN Cowen couldn’t get past the door, such was the size of the crowd in Dublin’s Mansion House on Wednesday night for the launch of David McCullagh’s major biography of former taoiseach John A Costello.

The new mellow Brian cooled his heels for a while outside the Oak Room before he was whisked away to a less congested entrance. He leaned up against the door jamb, under a large publicity poster for the book.

Journalists loitering outside reached for their telephones. Photographers were alerted. But they were at the top of the room, taking pictures of former taoiseach Liam Cosgrave who was in sparklingly tart form.

By the time they managed to push and shove their way to the door, Biffo had moved. The poster was still there though, the title of the biography screaming out at the disappointed photographers: The Reluctant Taoiseach. They chalked it up as one that got away. Perhaps Cowen’s luck is turning.

Pat Rabbitte, upon spying Mr Cowen at an event heaving with Fine Gael politicians, was heard to remark: “Very ecumenical. Is consensus breaking out?”

Dr McCullagh, a historian as well as RTÉ’s political correspondent, writes of a time when men were men and politicians were far more entertaining than the namby-pamby specimens we have to endure these days.

Fisticuffs were not uncommon when compromise taoiseach Costello led inter-party governments in the 1940s and 1950s. McCullagh describes one episode in which James Dillon’s cigarette holder was knocked from his teeth on the steps to the Dáil chamber by the Seanad leader.

A furious Dillon asked then taoiseach Eamon de Valera what he was going to do about all these senators rambling around the house “searching for drink and trouble”. Dev wasn’t too concerned. In fact, he mused if somebody insulted him, and he had no other option, he might just do the same as the senator.

By the way, Simon Coveney’s excellent proposal to do away with State cars and establish a car pool for Ministers is not without precedent (and we don’t mean David Cameron in Westminster).

Another nugget from the Reluctant Taoiseach tells us that Fianna Fáil’s Seán MacEntee took the free car away from ex-taoiseach John A Costello in his 1952 hairshirt budget.

Costello didn’t complain. He wrote a polite letter to the garda commissioner thanking him for providing such an excellent driver.

When he became returned to power in 1954, de Valera was worried that Costello might return the compliment by depriving him of his sleek black Packard limo.

He didn’t, and when Dev wrote wondering if he would now have to pay for the tax and insurance, Costello saw him right.