Fine Gael has defended its decision to abandon the pairings arrangement with the Government in a row over the holding of a two-day debate on the economy.
The party today confirmed its intention to withdraw from the pairings arrangement after the Government’s refusal to clear today’s Dáil agenda for the emergency debate.
Fine Gael has tabled a private members' motion condemning the Government for its "reckless economic policies", which it says have "sabotaged" our ability to withstand tougher economic times. The debate began this afternoon and will go to a vote tomorrow.
The Fine Gael move means the Government could come close to losing the vote. The Government currently has a working majority of 12 but up to nine of its TDs may be unavoidably absent for the vote on the economy debate tomorrow.
Under the pairings system, an opposition TD does not vote for each Government minister away on official business.
Despite Fine Gael's move, Taoiseach Brian Cowen refused to cancel his visit to New York to address the United Nations General Assembly. The Taoiseach flew to New York this afternoon to join other government leaders from around the world at the UN to reaffirm commitments to reaching the Millennium Development Goals on the reduction of poverty and disease by 2015.
The Government Chief Whip Pat Carey is believed to have asked Tánaiste Mary Coughlan and Minister for Foreign Affairs Dermot Martin to cancel trips to Brussels in order to vote in the Dáil.
Mr Ahern was due to discuss a ban on bogus marriages in EU member states, at the Justice and Home Affairs Council meeting while Ms Coughlan had been scheduled to attend the Competitiveness Council in Brussels tomorrow.
FG chief whip Paul Kehoe said today the party’s front bench had met this morning and were sticking to the move.
“The growing crisis in the economy is of huge concern to the Irish people and it is crucial that it is addressed by the Dáil as its first priority following the summer recess,” said Mr Kehoe.
“Last Thursday, Fine Gael requested that the first two days of the Dáil session be devoted to a debate on the economy and we offered to include Fine Gael’s Private Members’ time in such a debate.
“The Government’s current problem with the travel plans of Ministers is one entirely of their own making. If they had agreed to Fine Gael’s very reasonable request, the normal pairing arrangements would have applied.”
The single exception listed by Fine Gael is Minister for Social and Family Affairs Mary Hanafin who is accompanying President Mary McAleese on a State visit to Romania.
Minister of State Conor Lenihan is in Tanzania on UNHCR business, Minister for Sport and Tourism Martin Cullen is in the US on a private visit while Minister of State Barry Andrews and at least two backbenchers are attending family occasions.
