SEQUENCE OF RESIGNATIONS: A NUMBER of Government sources have confirmed the assertion of Green Party leader John Gormley of an "organised and choreographed" sequence of resignations on Wednesday.
Taoiseach Brian Cowen, accompanied by Government Chief Whip John Curran and then minister for defence Tony Killeen, met with a Green delegation of leader John Gormley, Minister for Energy Eamon Ryan and Senator Dan Boyle on Wednesday morning, the morning after Mr Cowen had won the confidence vote in his leadership at his parliamentary party.
At that meeting, Mr Cowen informed the Green delegation that he intended to reshuffle his Cabinet. Micheál Martin had resigned the previous night as minister for foreign affairs. Four names were mentioned at the meeting: Mr Martin and three ministers – Dermot Ahern, Noel Dempsey and Mr Killeen – who were not seeking re-election.
Several sources also confirmed yesterday that a reshuffle had been discussed by Fianna Fáil Ministers the previous week but had been put off because of the challenge to Mr Cowen’s leadership.
During that week, Mary Harney had returned from holidays and told Mr Cowen she would not be standing in the general election. She offered her resignation as minister for health verbally but he did not accept it.
Ms Harney was contacted on Wednesday afternoon – well before 6pm – and asked to draft a letter of resignation, which she did. The Taoiseach received it promptly and her resignation was sent to Áras an Uachtaráin and confirmed before 9pm. Ms Harney had said nothing of it when she earlier met Mr Gormley on the ministers’ corridor in Government Buildings.
When Mr Gormley appeared on the Six One News on Wednesday to express his reservation, he mentioned Dermot Ahern’s hospital operation as a possible justification for filling a vacancy. Mr Ahern rang from hospital half an hour later to say the procedure was routine and that he was quite capable of continuing as minister.
At 7.30pm Mr Ahern received a call from the Taoiseach asking him to write a letter of resignation. A courier collected the letter from the hospital.
It could not be established yesterday when former minister for transport Noel Dempsey wrote his letter but one source said it was also written that day.
The three resignations were formally announced just before 11pm that night.
A little later, Batt O’Keeffe, who had held several conversations in person with the Taoiseach that evening also decided he would step down. His letter was drafted after 11pm.
The announcement was not released, said a source, because it was approaching midnight and a morning announcement was viewed as preferable.
The source said that the decisions were those of the Taoiseach, advised by senior and close Fianna Fáil confidants. Mr Cowen and a Minister rang several deputies after midnight – including Barry Andrews and Kildare South TD Seán Ó Fearghail – to inform them that they would be appointed as Ministers the following morning.
