GILMORE PROPOSAL:LABOUR LEADER Eamon Gilmore said that Green Party leader John Gormley did not respond to his letter seeking a meeting to discuss how to address the controversy surrounding John O'Donoghue's expenses.
Taoiseach Brian Cowen, Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny and Sinn Féin’s Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin wrote back to Mr Gilmore yesterday. However, a spokesman for the Green Party said a letter was never received.
Mr Cowen did not agree to Mr Gilmore’s proposal that all party leaders should meet, although he said: “I share fully your concern to secure the standing of the democratic system, Dáil Éireann and the office of Ceann Comhairle”.
In his letter sent early in the day before Mr Gilmore’s intervention in the Dáil, Mr Cowen said the meeting of the Houses of the Oireachtas Commission was “the most appropriate forum in which to pursue these issues”.
Mr Kenny also wrote to Mr Gilmore saying the issues should be addressed at the Oireachtas Commission meeting.
“As to your suggestion of a meeting of party leaders, I have no objection to such a meeting but, for it to be worthwhile, it must be attended by all leaders, including the Taoiseach. I am prepared to participate on that basis,” Mr Kenny told Mr Gilmore.
Sinn Féin Dáil leader Mr Ó Caoláin said he was available to discuss the matter with other leaders. “Please advise when said meeting is to take place – the sooner the better,” he said.
In his letter, Mr Ó Caoláin said Mr O’Donoghue should resign immediately. Raising the issue in the Dáil later, Mr Gilmore thanked the leaders who had responded to him, but said he was disappointed it had not been possible to arrange the kind of meeting he had envisaged.
“I’m particularly disappointed Taoiseach that you yourself did not agree to such a meeting,” he added.
Speaking on the plinth outside Leinster House later, Mr Gilmore said he did not get a response from Mr Gormley.
“I presume he must be busy preparing for the negotiations to continue in government.
“I don’t know why I didn’t get a response from John Gormley. You’d have to ask him that,” Mr Gilmore said.
The spokesman for the Green Party in government said he spoke to a Labour spokesman on Monday and provided two fax numbers, but no letter was received.
However, the Labour spokesman insisted the letter had been faxed and added: “It was also hand delivered, placed in John Gormley’s pigeon hole in the Dáil before lunchtime yesterday”.
