Fine Gael has dramatically cancelled a media event celebrating its first year in office amid concerns it was triumphalist and inappropriate.
The party announced the photocall yesterday for an event that would show the party's TDs and Senators holding up stars, each depicting the party's achievements in Government.
The cancellation, which was being received as an embarrassing climbdown for the party, was announced before 9am this morning, shortly after Labour Minister for Communications Pat Rabbitte portrayed the event as "silly" and inappropriate.
Fine Gael head of publicity Tom Fabozzi said this morning that he had taken the decision after discussions with party colleagues and officials. He said no Minister had been involved in the decision to cancel the event and there had been no contact with Labour.
He said the decision was taken when it was discovered the Labour Party was not holding its own event.
"For us to go ahead would have been inappropriate, like one hand clapping. Obviously there are no rifts between the parties. We did not want to look triumphalist.
Asked was it embarrassing, he said that that was probably for other people to decide.
Speaking at a conference on health service reform in Croke Park this morning, Minister for health James Reilly said he agreed with Mr Rabbitte's comments about the planned event.
"I don’t believe we are in any celebratory mood whatsoever. We are in the business as ministers of addressing the major issues ahead of us. Health is a huge task, education has huge difficulties…. Everybody is far too busy and focussed on their work to be celebrating anything,” he said.
Asked whether the Taoiseach or other ministers had been involved in planning the event, he said "it might have been some over enthusiastic individuals in the back room".
"Obviously they've their job to do. I've my job to do; my job is about getting this about getting this health service fixed and supporting my party colleagues in getting this country back on its feet."
Minister for Children Frances Fitzgerald said if there was “ any question that something like what had been planned, quite informally yesterday, could have been misconstrued it was better that it was cancelled”.
The party "certainly wouldn't want to be seen to be celebrating in any way at a time which is so difficult for so many people," she said.
Today's event had been organised to involve the party's 100 TDs and Senators. Party chairman Charlie Flanagan said yesterday it would give Fine Gael a "a great opportunity to reflect on the progress that has been made over the last year.
"The Irish people gave the Government an overwhelming mandate to fix our broken economy and return this country to prosperity. A huge amount of work has been carried out over the 12 months and while we still have a difficult road ahead, I believe we are back on the right track.”
The photo opportunity would have involved Fine Gael Deputies and Senators holding coloured stars detailing significant Fine Gael achievements in Government.