February 16, 2011
By Staff Reporter
McDowell told a meeting of the Progressive Democrats’ general council in a unscripted address that he personally believed his party would not fulfill its five-year program for government with Fianna Fail.
Observers believe the tensions between the two parties are set only to increase in the coming months and years as a Dail election comes into sight.
Relations between the partners are at an all-time low. The recent departure of Finance Minister Charlie McCreevy has been flagged by some commentators as having added to strains. McCreevy was held in high regard by the PDs who viewed him as an ideological soul-mate. His policies of low taxation and low spending chimed with the laissez-faire economics favored by Tanaiste Mary Harney’s party.
The disastrous showing by Fianna Fail in this year’s local elections was pinned on the PDs.
Fianna Fail backbenchers claimed that the minority party had pulled Fianna Fail too far to the right and was exerting a disproportionate influence on government policy. They claimed that the party had lost sight of its social and economic roots and was facilitating a right-wing economic agenda, hence the loss of a significant share of its vote to Sinn Fein.
McDowell’s comments are being seen as motivated by party concerns. The PD’s have always been a fringe party in Ireland and maintaining its small support base is a must if it is to survive.
McDowell famously helped secure seven seats for the party in the 2002 Dail election by promising the electorate that the PD’s would act as Fianna Fail watchdogs in any coalition and that the Republican party could not be trusted to govern alone.
Political observers believe McDowell made his most recent remarks as part of a new strategy to again put some distance between the PD’s and Fianna Fail and to stake out a distinct identity for the smaller party.
The PD’s moved Monday to distance themselves from McDowell’s remarks. Party sources were quoted as saying that they would be sticking to the deal with Fianna Fail and would go into the next election having seen out a full-term.
It is extremely unlikely that McDowell would seek to push for an early election. To anger Fianna Fail could spell disaster for his party. His “no to single party government” approach in 2002 made the PD’s seem viable and a credible government partner. To spurn Bertie Ahern before the end of term may presage moves towards a Fianna Fail coalition with numerous like-minded independent TD’s.
Such a move would be welcomed by many within the Fianna Fail ranks. They sat and watched in May as Sinn Fein hovered up support in “traditional” Fianna Fail working-class areas. Bertie Ahern acknowledged that the Sinn Fein onslaught had seriously dented the Fianna Fail vote and promised that he would move to counter the perception that the party had moved away from its roots.
This was followed in June by the comments of Fianna Fail cabinet member Dermot Ahern who launched a broadside against PD policy. While refraining from attacking the party directly, Ahern made clear that he saw Fianna Fail’s future as a party of social conscience.
Meanwhile, McDowell’s remarks are not expected to have a bearing on next month’s government reshuffle.
Mary Harney has been linked to the Department of Foreign Affairs but this is thought unlikely. The main movers will be within Fianna Fail.
Defense Minister Michael Smith has spent the last week fighting a rearguard action against moves to have him ousted from the cabinet.
It is believed that Smith will be stood down by Ahern in the coming weeks. This follows the resignation of Minister for Agriculture Joe Walsh two weeks ago. Both Walsh and Smith had been tipped for early removal from cabinet since their surprise re-appointments in 2002.
Fianna Fail backbenchers and various junior ministers have voiced their impatience with Ahern and it is thought he will promote several younger Fianna Fail TD’s to more significant posts.