Taoiseach spends day sounding out where he stands

Cowen’s consultations on his leadership took many different shapes and forms

TAOISEACH BRIAN Cowen made or received more than 40 phone calls at his office in Government Buildings on Merrion Street yesterday, after inviting Fianna Fáil TDs to talk about his leadership privately.

Mr Cowen’s attempt to return a call from Mary O’Rourke (Longford-Westmeath) disturbed her at the hairdresser’s in the afternoon.

Mrs O’Rourke explained she had called the Taoiseach’s office yesterday morning to say she could not get to Dublin for a face-to-face meeting because she had a number of appointments in her constituency.

She asked if a telephone conversation could be arranged, but the return call from the Taoiseach’s private secretary came earlier than expected.

“I was in the hairdresser’s getting a wash and blow-dry, my hair dripping wet, when the phone goes,” she said. A later time was arranged, but Mrs O’Rourke insisted she would not reveal the contents of their conversation.

Minister for Tourism Mary Hanafin confirmed she spoke to the Taoiseach early yesterday evening by phone. “The Taoiseach is continuing to consult with members of the parliamentary party and I am satisfied that my views will be taken into consideration along with those of my party colleagues,” she said.

Ms Hanafin spent most of the morning at the BT Young Scientist and Technology Exhibition at the RDS in Dublin’s Ballsbridge, where she told reporters the consultation process between Mr Cowen and members of the parliamentary party should be finalised quickly.

Minister for Finance Brian Lenihan spent the day in his department, but did go to Mr Cowen’s office at about 7pm, where the pair held what was described as a routine discussion.

Minister for Foreign Affairs Micheál Martin did not attempt to contact Mr Cowen yesterday.

Mr Martin was in his Cork South-Central constituency, operating between his home in Ballinlough and office in Turner’s Cross. There were no public engagements in his diary.

Minister for Social Protection Éamon Ó Cuív, who has also hinted he may contest leadership following a vacancy, did not speak to Mr Cowen yesterday.

"I'm more focused on the policy that the person. As long as the Taoiseach chooses to stay, I'll support him," he told The Irish Times.

Mr Ó Cuív spent the best part of the day on the Aran Islands, which are part of his Galway West constituency. He did five radio interviews yesterday, held a clinic on Inis Mór, where he attended the launch of an electric car scheme, and was back in his constituency office in Galway by mid-afternoon.

At about lunchtime, Seán Ó Fearghaíl (Kildare South), a supporter of Mr Cowen, called the Taoiseach’s office but did not ask to speak to him directly. “I sent a message to say I’ve made my views known to him and I don’t need to talk to him any further. He knows where I stand,” Mr Ó Fearghaíl said.

Minister of State Seán Connick called to arrange a conversation with Mr Cowen, and the Taoiseach rang him back on his mobile phone at about 3pm.

“We spoke for 10-15 minutes. The conversation was about the party, the general election, the leadership of Fianna Fáil and the future of the country,” Mr Connick said. “I said I would support him in whatever decision he made,” he added.

At 3.20pm, Mr Cowen began a 12-minute conversation with Charlie O’Connor (Dublin South-West), who had phoned earlier to request a conversation.

“I told him the way I felt and made it very clear we have a difficult situation and this is a distraction, and we need to get on.

“I thought it was a good conversation, it certainly wasn’t a short conversation,” Mr O’Connor said.

“It was a political conversation. He asked me how things were. I told him I was going about my business in the normal way.”

Mr O’Connor said he was supportive of the Taoiseach.

At 4pm, Minister of State Barry Andrews (Dún Laoghaire) phoned Mr Cowen. “I rang him to tell him I supported him and I supported whatever decision he decided to take,” Mr Andrews said.

“I got the impression he wanted to do what’s best for Ireland and Fianna Fáil, and that’s always been his motivation in my view.

“He said people were very upfront with him. Even those who’ve criticised him realise he’s been dealt a very bad hand, but nobody doubts his honesty.”

At about the same time, Michael Fitzpatrick (Kildare North), a known supporter of Mr Cowen, texted the Taoiseach. “I sent him a text saying I didn’t need to speak to him,” Mr Fitzpatrick said.

Also about that time, Mr Cowen returned a call from Michael Kitt (Galway East).

Mr Kitt told Mr Cowen he was waiting to see what the senior Ministers were doing.

Minister of State Conor Lenihan, confirmed on the Six Onenews on RTÉ One: "I have sought a meeting with him today and will obviously talk to him on the phone if necessary or meet him in the next 24 hours."

A number of TDs known to be critical of Mr Cowen did not return calls yesterday.

Assessing Mr Cowen’s strategy, one long-time deputy said: “He’s doing it old Haughey-style: ‘Come into my office and I’ll talk to you.’ Haughey used to do that all the time. You buy time that way.”

Minister of State Martin Mansergh confirmed he went to see Mr Cowen on Thursday evening after the parliamentary party meeting.

“I have made it clear to the Taoiseach that he will have my continued support to complete the Government’s term,” said Mr Mansergh.

Mr Cowen’s constituency colleague Seán Fleming (Laois-Offaly) said he would not be seeking a phonecall or meeting with Mr Cowen.

Asked if he was a supporter, Mr Fleming said: “I’d be on the side of Fianna Fáil.”

Chairman of the parliamentary party John Browne (Wexford) also said he would not seek to speak with Mr Cowen.

“As chairman of the party I speak to him on a regular basis, so I don’t see any necessity to talk to him today,” Mr Browne said yesterday.

Frank Fahey (Galway West), a supporter, said there was no need for him to call or meet formally with Mr Cowen.

“I think he’d have a good idea where I stand,” he said.

NUMBERS GAME SUPPORTERS BELIEVE 40 OR MORE TDS WOULD BACK COWEN

TAOISEACH Brian Cowen’s supporters believe he can command the support of 40 or more of the party’s TDs in a no-confidence motion.

A small number of the party’s 70-strong parliamentary party have made public their view that a change of leadership is required. They include John McGuinness, Noel O’Flynn, Ned O’Keeffe, Tom Kitt, Michael Kennedy, Chris Andrews, Sean Power and MJ Nolan.

However, a much larger cohort have declared their support for Mr Cowen. The large list includes Sean Ardagh, John Cregan, Niall Collins, John Curran, Frank Fahey, Michael Finneran, Tony Killeen, Eamon Ó Cuív, Mary Coughlan, Sean O’Fearghail, Darragh O’Brien, Barry Andrews, John Moloney and Christy O’Sullivan.

Supporters of Micheál Martin have said they believe he would win a contest for the leadership in the event of a vacancy. However, one said yesterday that a straight no-confidence motion – essentially between Mr Martin and Mr Cowen – would be “very tight”.

A number of other TDs said they would be unwilling to put their names to a motion unless a challenger emerged.