Political friends, foes congratulate PD leader

Michael McDowell's accession as leader of the Progressive Democrats has received mixed reaction from his political colleagues.

Taoiseach Bertie Ahern, who is expected to name Mr McDowell as Tánaiste later this week, welcomed the appointment.

"The Taoiseach looks forward to working closely with Mr McDowell and will meet him ahead of Wednesday's cabinet meeting," a spokesman for Mr Ahern said.

Mr McDowell once famously clashed with Mr Ahern over the Taoiseach's proposals to build a massive sports stadium at Abbottstown, Co Dublin. The Minister described the "Bertie Bowl" as "a Ceaucescu-era Olympic project".

The chairman of Fianna Fáil, Seamus Kirk, said Mr McDowell's election would help bolster the stability of the Government coalition.

"The Minister for Justice has always proved willing to come among us and discuss the issues of the day. He has been ready to listen and debate policy matters with us," Mr Kirk said. "I have no doubt that this spirit of co-operation will continue in the future."

Mr McDowell received more barbed compliments from his main political foes.

Pat Rabbitte, the Labour Party leader, described his appointment as "no surprise" to those who have observed his journey in politics. "His accession to the leadership of the PDs holds out the prospect of a clearer choice between those of us who believe in the fair society, and those like Michael McDowell who believe that a measure of inequality is necessary to drive our economic and political system," Mr Rabbitte said.

Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny offered his congratulations to the new PD leader

but warned that he was facing a busy period in the run-up to the election.

"With crime levels rising and crime detection rates falling, with hundreds of patients on trolleys and thousands on waiting lists and this Government miles away from reaching their stated target of having 20 per cent of workers paying tax at the top level there is a significant body of work to be done to move past the politics of promise to those of delivery," Mr Kenny said.

"That, ultimately, is the test of any political leader."

In a statement to the media and party faithful at a press conference in Dublin today, Mr McDowell claimed Fine Gael and Labour could only offer the electorate a return to "the politics of failure, paralysis and underachievement".