Alex White accuses Kenny of firing Garda commissioner

Labour leadership contender and Minister of State for Health Alex White has accused Taoiseach Enda Kenny of firing former Garda commissioner Martin Callinan and warned that he will not stay in Coalition "at any cost".

The comments are contained in a letter being sent by Mr White to rank-and-file party members as the contest to succeed Eamon Gilmore as leader and Tánaiste intensifies.

While it is acknowledged by those in Mr White's camp that Minister for Social Protection Joan Burton is ahead in the succession race, they claim the forthcoming debates, with the first one next week, will play to Mr White's strengths.

The Dublin South TD is issuing a letter to all party members setting out his agenda. It says Labour is “in a tight corner and we are going to have to fight very hard to get ourselves out of it . . . and to ensure that nobody is in any doubt what we stand for”.

‘Not at any cost’ “We must assert ourselves in Government,” the letter adds. “I am committed to completing our term of Government. But, not at any cost. Labour, under my leadership, will co-operate with Fine Gael as equal partners. We have a mandate from twenty per cent of the Irish people and we will not be taken for granted. I will not stand over a position where the Taoiseach looks to fire the Commissioner of the Gardaí without as much as a phone call to the leader of the Labour Party.”

Mr Kenny and the Government – including Labour Ministers – have stuck to the line that Mr Callinan chose to retire after he was told of Coalition concerns about the taping of phone calls at Garda stations.

Mr White’s statement is likely to be seized on by the Opposition, who have repeatedly called on Mr Kenny to answer questions about the night he ordered Brian Purcell, secretary general of the Department of Justice, to Mr Callinan’s home, with the commissioner resigning the following morning.

‘Patriotic duty’

Mr Gilmore was first told of Mr Callinan’s departure the morning after Mr Purcell had visited the commissioner’s home.

Mr White’s letter also states that “the patriotic duty” of “bringing the country back from the brink” is now done.

“The time for cuts in public services and tax rises for people on average incomes is over . . . I will not stand over any significant cuts in spending in the two budgets which remain in the lifetime of the current government.”