The Oireachtas
Posted by citizenjon on January 31, 2008
On Wednesday, I beseeched Tony Gregory’s PA Valerie to put me on the list for the public gallery at the first sitting of the government in 2008.
I considered it an important addendum to the Mahon Tribunal’s investigations because several important questions had been unearthed during the Taoiseach’s questioning on the 20th and 21st of December 2007.
New figures revealed following the tribunal’s investigation found that Mr. Ahern’s compliance with tax laws were problematic.
The Taoiseach, formerly Minister for Finance, said that his compliance with tax requirements would be decided after the tribunal made its ruling a week before the Dail was due to resume government.
In the chamber of the Oireachtas Mr. Ahern refuted that claim,
“It is not correct. If I said so, I wasn’t correct, so I can’t recall if I did say, but I did not say, or if I did say it, I didn’t mean to say it, that these issues can’t be dealt with until the end of the Mahon tribunal”.
Watching the leader in action today in the Dail chamber was a revelation. Particularly telling was the poor attendance of government ministers after an initial vote. The place cleaned out in a few minutes, leaving Bertie and Brian Cowen mumbling to each other behind their hands.
As a signifier of the current dynamic of the government’s front bench, one need look no further than observing their seating habits in the Dail chamber.
Immediately following the vote, which was attended by all government ministers, there was an evacuation en masse prior to ‘leader’s questions’. The Taoiseach looked down at his pad, seemed to make notes. As the leader of the opposition, Enda Kenny opened up a barrage of strong criticism of the Taoiseach, the government ministers for supporting him and criticizing the tribunal’s activities subsequent to the Taoiseach’s last appearance there.
Mr. Ahern was permitted a response, he bumbled his way through it (above), uttering, as opposition leader Eamon Gilmore put it, a quadruple negative that he would have to reread from Dail transcripts to understand.
As leader’s questions continued, the government cabinet ministers imperceptibly disappeared into various ante-chambers. When Sinn Fein’s Caoimbin O’Caomhain, stood to ask the Taoiseach about his evidence to the tribunal only Brian Cowen, who faithfully sat by the Taoiseach and Martin Cullen-seated several empty places away-remained.
He struck an isolated figure, more so when Cowen excused himself. As he passed Cullen, he passed some comment. Cullen glanced at the Taoiseach seated alone now on the front bench, and moved to the seat next to him.
As leader’s questions continued Bertie’s chin disappeared deeper into this chest.
Later opposition call for a motion of confidence in the Mahon tribunal from the government
