CLAIMS OF disunity in Government have been strongly rejected by Taoiseach Enda Kenny, who has also expressed his full confidence in embattled Minister for the Environment Phil Hogan.
Mr Kenny said the Fine Gael-Labour Coalition was “absolutely focused” on taking action in the best interests of the people and carrying out the mandate it was given in the election.
At the GPO after the Easter Rising commemoration ceremony, he said the significance of Fine Gael chairman Charlie Flanagan’s tweet criticising Minister for Social Protection Joan Burton had been exaggerated.
Mr Flanagan asked in a tweet last week if Ms Burton had a “Government death wish”.
She had earlier said Government Ministers had to be conscious of how they interacted with people who had been the subject of adverse findings by tribunals.
Mr Kenny yesterday defended the meetings between Independent TD Michael Lowry and three Fine Gael Ministers including Mr Hogan, describing them as part of the normal business of democracy.
Asked if Coalition solidarity was under threat as a result of recent developments, he said: “This Government is absolutely focused on fulfilling its mandate and the remit given to it by the people of Ireland.”
He added: “The Government of Fine Gael and Labour, with myself and Tánaiste Eamon Gilmore, are absolutely focused on what we have to do in the interests of our people and the interests of the country.”
Asked if Mr Flanagan’s comment on Twitter about Ms Burton had been damaging, he said: “People are making absolute mountains out of every comment that is made these days.”
The Government was facing “very serious challenges” in relation to the public finances and its “delicate negotiations” with the European Central Bank.
“I always say, you know, ‘comment will invite comment’, but let me assure you that there is no equivocation here insofar as the Government is concerned, there is absolute focus on what we have to do.
“I am reminded indeed of what Minister Burton actually said: that members of Government should be careful about their interaction with persons who are named in tribunals.”
It was put to him that Labour backbencher Colm Keaveney had accused Mr Flanagan of “cyber-bullying” in this instance.
“I would say to everybody: ‘Calm down, we’ve got bigger challenges up ahead’.
“And that’s where Government is absolutely focused, that’s what my remit is, that’s what the mandate of the Government is, and that’s we intend to fulfil.”
Asked if he had full confidence in Mr Hogan, he replied: “I have absolutely full confidence in every member of this Government in getting up on deck with all of their resources and ploughing the furrow for the people of Ireland, just as those did who read the Proclamation from the spot I stand on, on the 24th of April, 1916.”
Mr Kenny said the meetings between Mr Lowry and Ministers Mr Hogan, Mr Noonan and Dr Reilly were a “normal part of the democratic business”.
“All of these were absolutely in accordance with the code of conduct, where public servants were there to record the matters that were under discussion. That’s a normal part of the democratic business.”
The Taoiseach added: “We’re standing here under the portals of the GPO where those in 1916 came out and started the fledgling steps towards economic and political independence and we should always remember that.”
