Coveney ‘did not consult lawyers on abortion plan’
Blow to Tánaiste’s leadership hopes amid gaffes over two-thirds ‘lock’
CABINET Ministers believe that Tánaiste Simon Coveney didn’t consult lawyers or the Attorney General before news leaked out of his proposal for a two-thirds majority Dáil vote on abortion changes.
A series of gaffes this week has led to renewed criticism of the Tánaiste’s impact on the chances of the repeal of the Eight Amendment.
Mr Coveney previously outlined that he was in favour of repeal, but against allowing abortion in all circumstances until 12 weeks.
This week he announced that he had changed his mind, and was now in favour of the 12-week proposal – but wanted only a two-thirds majority of the Dáil to be able to change future legislation on the issue. When that position was derided, he accused the media of ‘over-simplification’ – before proposing that women would have to undergo a scan between nine to 12 weeks of pregnancy to get access to the abortion pill.
Political observers have also queried how nine-week scans could be implemented given resources available. In any case, this proposal, too, was rejected.
Ministers say the events of the week have ‘finished off’ any hopes of a future bid by Mr Coveney for the leadership of Fine Gael. An ally of Mr Coveney’s said last night, ‘He f***ed up big time.’
The Irish Mail on Sunday can reveal that Health Minister Simon Harris, who supported Mr Coveney in last year’s party leadership bid, had to inform him in front of colleagues at Tuesday’s Cabinet meeting that his proposals were ‘not workable’.
He was backed later in the meeting by Attorney General Séamus Woulfe who confirmed that the proposals were ‘unconstitutional’, according to eyewitnesses.
Contacted this week, Mr Coveney’s advisers refused to reveal whether he had consulted lawyers prior to his announcement.
Mr Coveney’s bad political week began on Monday night, when his new spokesman, former Newstalk presenter Chris Donoghue, told journalists that his boss was ‘looking for a two-thirds majority to be necessary’ if there was ever any future attempt to alter the law.
Journalists were told: ‘The Tánaiste hopes this will go some way towards countering reckless claims that our parliament can’t be trusted and to reassure voters that there will be no creeping change over time if they vote repeal.’
However, at 8.30am the following day Labour leader Brendan Howlin said on RTÉ radio that the proposal was unconstitutional. A friend of Mr Coveney’s explained his motivation: ‘He did feel as Tánaiste a duty to get on board. He didn’t want divisions between he and Leo and he and Harris. ‘I can tell you this honestly: he did spend many hours meeting doctors, and reading stuff. He did do his homework.’ However, a Cabinet colleague said: ‘Where he really f***ed up was that himself and Chris [Donoghue] were a bit too smart. They decided to, the night before Cabinet, to contact every daily political correspondent and say, “Tomorrow the Tánaiste is going to demand a two-third lock at Cabinet.” A cursory look at the Constitution would have told you it is not possible.’ Asked whether Mr Coveney and Mr Donoghue consulted a lawyer, the Cabinet minister replied ‘No’.
Mr Coveney’s spokesman outlined Mr Coveney’s mindset. ‘What he was trying to have a discussion about on Tuesday was other things that can convince people who aren’t convinced yet to vote yes,’ the spokesman said.
He confirmed that it was discussed for short time at Cabinet and he said the Attorney General is going to look at other measures.
His spokesman would not discuss whether Mr Coveney had consulted a lawyer. He said he did not want to become involved in the discussion because Ministers were making their accusations anonymously.
On Tuesday Ministers came to Cabinet understanding that the proposal was unconstitutional.
Early in the meeting, it is understood that Mr Harris referred to the Tánaiste’s mooted two-thirds lock as ‘not workable’, adding that it might ‘make sense’ for the Attorney General to explore other options. This was interpreted as Mr Harris ‘trying to take the heat out of’ the situation. One minister said: ‘You have to get a man off a hill.’
Mr Coveney remained unperturbed according to eyewitnesses but it’s believed that any hopes he harbours of bidding for the party leadership in the future have been dealt a blow.
‘I think he’s done himself massive, massive, massive damage,’ a Fine Gael TD said. The TD added: ‘The big winner this week is Paschal Donohoe. He managed to position himself correctly .’
‘You have to get a man off a hill’