THEIR respective parties are sharing power in Government but Fianna Fáil Councillor Cathal Crowe and Green Party Councillor Brian Meaney have clashed over the events culminating in the resignation of Defence Minister Willie O’Dea.
Councillor Crowe, who has been a personal friend and political work colleague of Deputy O’Dea for the last 11 years, blames Green Party Senator Dan Boyle and the Fine Gael party for combining to seal the fate of the Limerick minister.
Councillor Crowe claimed that Senator Boyle should have had the courage to outline his misgivings about Deputy O’Dea in the Seanad or through his own party instead of using a social networking site, Facebook, to make political statements.
He has also questioned why Fine Gael waited four days after the shock resignation of Deputy George Lee to voice concerns about Deputy O’Dea’s incorrect statement in his affidavit concerning an interview given to The Limerick Leader.
Councillor Crowe described Deputy O’Dea’s work rate as phenomenal.
“Even at 9pm last Thursday night when news of his resignation was being broadcast on the airwaves, one of Willie’s clinics in Limerick City was taking place. He gives his constituents a 24/7 service and this commitment is something I have tried to emulate in my own work as a county councillor. Willie has been an inspiration to me, my best friend in politics and, in many ways, the person who brought me into politics.
“I am gutted that Willie has had to resign from the Cabinet. Whilst he has made a very big mistake, I believe that he has paid too heavy a price for his wrongdoing.
“Willie has been one of the Cabinet’s best performers to date. Over the years, he has brought a high level of intelligence and ability from his previous careers as a barrister, accountant and third-level lecturer.
“I firmly believe that there is still a very bright future ahead for Willie. I am hopeful that he will one day serve in Cabinet again but even in the short term, I believe he should be considered for a junior ministry,” he said.
However, Councillor Meaney claimed Councillor Crowe’s “unbelievable loyalty” had clouded his own judgement concerning the events leading up to Deputy O’Dea’s resignation.
“Willie O’Dea paid a high price for making a stupid mistake. Limerick has lost a voice at the Cabinet table it could ill afford.
“I completely reject the suggestion that the Green Party were involved in the demise of Deputy O’Dea. Substantial damage was done when the tape of the interview was played on national radio and television and also by Deputy O’Dea’s own speech in the Dáil.
“The Green Party had to vote with the Government the previous day or else the Government could have collapsed.
“The Greens were bounced into voting with the Government without having all the facts at their disposal by the Fine Gael motion. Once all the facts emerged, Deputy O’Dea’s position was untenable,” he said.
Meanwhile, Deputy Joe Carey has claimed Deputy O’Dea let down the Mid-West when he was in Cabinet. “The resignation of Willie O’Dea was, in my view, appropriate. There is no wonder why Irish politics is viewed with increasing cynicism in light of the whole O’Dea affair. This sorry episode has highlighted the cracks between both government partners. They clearly cannot agree on ethics in office and on other issues of national interest, such as soaring unemployment, financial stability, attracting foreign direct investment and creating jobs they continue to fail.”
While he didn’t feel that O’Dea was a loss to the region, he said his replacement should come from the Mid West. “Willie O’Dea has not performed for the Mid West so his resignation is not a significant loss. He simply did not deliver on the bigger issues like Shannon Airport which has taken blow after blow, Limerick regeneration appears parked, the recommendations of the Mid-West Task Force have been ignored and unemployment in the region is above the national average.
“Notwithstanding this, if we had a truly strong voice at the Cabinet table, the Mid West Region could benefit greatly. The Government must move quickly to fill the political vacuum left by this resignation.”

Meaney gutted by Sargent resignation

THE shock resignation of Minister of State, Trevor Sargent following a representation to a garda about a constituent ahead of a court case has left Green Party Councillor, Brian Meaney “saddened, gutted and disappointed”.
Once details of Deputy Sargent’s “unlawful” representation emerged on Tuesday, Councillor Meaney knew the minister would resign from his position without being asked to do so.
“I am concerned that there are people with agendas who seem hell bent on bringing down this Government. There may be some more interesting developments about where this leak came from over the coming days. This Government needs a chance to concentrate on serious challenges facing the country such as unemployment,” he said.
Meanwhile, Councillor Meaney has confirmed he was not interested in securing a seat on the Seanad following the departure of Senator Deirdre De Bruin from the party.
Councillor Meaney, who was tipped for the post, said he had campaigned very hard to retain his seat on Clare County Council and to win a seat on Ennis Town Council and felt he could contribute a lot more to local Government at this stage.
“I was honoured to be one of the few Green Party councillors to retain my county council seat. I am involved in a number of projects at local level, which I hope will deliver jobs and I don’t want to walk away from them at this stage.
“I will reassess my position concerning the Seanad at a further date,” he said.
An Taoiseach Brian Cowen nominated Mark Dearey, who has been a Green Party councillor since 2004 in Dundalk, to fill the vacancy in the Seanad.