The Opposition will boycott the Dβil this morning for a second day in an exceptional protest over allegations of corruption made against a former Fine Gael Minister. The protest looks set to continue into next week.
Former Minister for Justice Mrs Nora Owen said yesterday she had been "ruined" by the untrue and unfounded allegations made by the independent Donegal deputy, Mr Thomas Gildea, in the Dβil chamber on Wednesday night.
Mr Gildea had said Mrs Owen should be investigated for abusing her powers and putting unacceptable pressure on garda∅ in Donegal when in office. The claim arose during a debate on a Fine Gael private members' motion calling for a tribunal of inquiry into the McBrearty affair.
Mr Gildea, who had withdrawn his allegations after being requested to do so, apologised to Mrs Owen and her party yesterday morning "for the hurt caused".
The Tβnaiste, Ms Harney, described Mr Gildea's remarks as unwarranted and said she regretted very much that the privilege of the Dβil chamber had been abused. A short time later Opposition parties walked out of the chamber in protest at the Government's refusal to allow time for a motion of censure against Mr Gildea.
A number of deputies asked if Mr Gildea had been given assistance in writing his script.
The Fine Gael leader, Mr Noonan, said the episode was a "dirty tricks operation in Fianna Fβil".
However, a Government spokesman said nobody from the Government had anything to do with Mr Gildea's speech. The Government chief whip, Mr SΘamus Brennan, has suggested that the matter be dealt with by the Committee on Procedure and Privileges, which is composed of members from all sides of the house. "He [Mr Gildea] does support the Government, but we don't have any whip on him, he's independent."
Fine Gael and Labour say they will decide after today when they will return to the Dβil chamber.
It is expected that Labour may allow Fine Gael some of their private members' time on Tuesday for the motion of censure.
Mr Gildea was elected on the deflector television issue in Donegal South West. The issue caused a long-running controversy in the area and in 1996, MMDS transmission equipment, ready to be erected on a Telecom communications mast by Cable Management Ireland Ltd (CMI), was burnt out near Adrara. In his speech on Wednesday night, Mr Gildea said Mrs Owen was a "willing and enthusiastic handmaiden" of CMI.
Its former chief executive, Mr Ray Doyle, told The Irish Times yesterday that if Mr Gildea cared to make the remarks in public, outside of the privilege of the Dβil chamber, he would "deal with him in a different manner".
"Gildea and his cohorts in Co Donegal acted in a manner that obstructed access for a legitimately licensed operation, while they supported and promoted the interests and the case of illegal operators."
He said CMI did correspond with Mrs Owen when she was Minister for Justice, as well as the Department of Transport, Energy and Communications "pleading with the Government to take action against these people".
CMI was taken over by US company Liberty, which is a shareholder in Princes Holdings, in September 1999. Liberty owns 50 per cent of Princes Holdings, with Independent News and Media holding the remainder. The cable company, which traded as Irish Multi-Channel, now operates as Chorus.
A spokesman for the Garda Press Office said they would not have any comment to make on what a TD said within the Dβil chamber.