Philip Ryan:

Blame game is on as Fianna Fáil hunts Cowen mole

ABLAME game has kicked off in Fianna Fáil. TDs are turning on each other over the controversy surrounding Barry Cowen’s drink-driving ban and his failure to acquire a full licence until he was 49. Details of Mr Cowen’s ban came at a time when there is a lot bitterness swirling around Taoiseach Micheál Martin’s party, after TDs were left disappointed by his ministerial appointments.

Accusations are flying around about how details of a four-year-old traffic incident became public.

In most circumstances, Opposition politicians are blamed for circulating potentially damaging information about their rivals.

But, in this instance, Fianna Fáil figures have turned on each other. Names are being passed around among TDs, senators, councillors and members about who they believe is responsible for Mr Cowen ending up in the headlines. The wolf is among the sheep, they believe.

There is talk of a disappointed party member seeking to damage the leadership after being sidelined when Mr Martin was elected Taoiseach. One rumour involves a loose-lipped party member spilling the beans after drowning their sorrows with a few beers.

Fine Gael will be somewhat surprised it is not getting the blame but perhaps the two parties have bedded in more quickly than either would have thought. Fine Gael TDs have been quick out of the traps to defend Mr Cowen, as was Green Party leader Eamon Ryan, although Mr Ryan did raise questions about the Agriculture Minister’s failure to procure a full licence until he was nearly 50.

Yesterday, Fine Gael and the Green Party even weighed in behind Fianna Fáil to block an attempt to allow TDs to question Mr Cowen following his personal statement in the Dáil last night.

Rise TD Paul Murphy asked that the Dáil’s schedule be changed to permit questions, but the governing deputies voted down the proposal. This meant Mr Cowen was free to walk into the Dáil, say his piece and leave.

The minister has had a difficult week but he will surely be buoyed by the cross-party support he has received from his new government partners. He is perhaps lucky the controversy was sparked in the Government’s first week.

If the revelations emerged a week earlier Mr Cowen may never have crossed the threshold of the minister’s office in Agriculture House on Kildare Street. And had the traffic offence emerged down the road, when things aren’t as cosy in the fledgling coalition, the situation could have been far more awkward for him.

For now, it looks like he is safe in his new role and will be able to get stuck into his brief over the coming months.

In the Dáil, Micheál Martin insisted his focus is on the “fundamentals that face the Irish people” rather than the controversy surrounding Mr Cowen. The country’s leader will face more problems with his own party members during the Dáil term, and Fine Gael and the Green Party will expect Fianna Fáil to repay the favour if their TDs get in trouble.

However, given the rumblings in Fianna Fáil, Mr Martin might find it more difficult to convince his TDs to support the old enemy if they are faced with difficulties.