THE TAOISEACH has rejected opposition claims that the Government is using Oireachtas committees as “the private property of Fianna Fáil” by removing former Fianna Fáil TD Joe Behan and Independent Finian McGrath from three of them.
Mr Behan (Wicklow) resigned from the party and Mr McGrath (Dublin North Central) withdrew his support from the Government because of the over-70s medical card controversy. Mr Behan was removed from the education committee of which he was convenor and from the finance committee, while Mr McGrath was removed from the justice committee.
Brian Cowen insisted that the Government needed to have a working majority for legislative committees and the Opposition would do the same. The motion was approved by 81 to 73 votes.
Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny described the move as “quite vindictive”. Labour leader Éamon Gilmore said House committees of the House should not be treated “as the private property of Fianna Fáil” where those who incurred the Government’s displeasure were “kicked off” whatever committee they were on. He said it was “mean, nasty and vindictive”.
Sinn Féin leader in the Dáil Caoimhghin Ó Caoláin said there was no proposal to allow the two deputies to join other committees.
