THE CELTIC CONNECTION » DECEMBER/JANUARY 1994/1995
Page 9
IRISH GOVERNMENT REELS IN TURMOIL
By MAURA McCAY
DUBLIN — The long-running disagreement betweenTaoiseacn Albert Reynolds and Tanaiste Dick Spring over the appointment of former Attorney General Harry Whelehan, to the position of President of the High Court, reached a dramatic conclusion with the resignation of Reynolds on November 17.
The controversy brought Ireland's Government to the brink of a complete collapse and into the throes of another general election. It also cast a shadow over the peace process, creating apprehension over the fate of Northern Ireland.
The trouble began with Reynolds' insistence on appointing Whelehan to the High Court, despite opposition from the Labour Party wing of his coalition government.
Initially, it was thought that the matter had been resolved, with
will prevail and that those in dispute at this time will resolve their difficulties in the interests of the very real opportunity which exists to achieve, through a negotiated settlement, a just and lasting peace in Ireland."
Meanwhile, Justice Whelehan was sworn in as President of the High Court.
When the Dail later resumed, Reynolds blamed the system rather than Whelehan, saying that it was "a system developed for past conditions which failed to cope with present realities." Again, he reiterated that Whelehan had been unaware of the extradition request until recent weeks and promised radical changes to the procedures in place at the Attorney General's office.
Fine Gael decided to table a motion of "no confidence" in the Government and confusion became the order of the day. A
Labour being credited with initi- media frenzy followed with ac-ating new legislation on judicial cusations being hurled in every appointments and the apparent direction, agreement that Whelehan would be appointed to the position, after a suitable period had elapsed.
However, problems arose when a member of Fine Gael, the opposition party, demanded an explanation about the seven-month delay in responding to an RUC request for the extradition to Northern Ireland of a Catholic priest (Smyth), charged with sexually abusing children during a 24-year period. Dick Spring insisted on an explanation from Whelehan who, as Attorney General, was the minister responsible for the extradition.
Foreign Affairs and the resignation of all Labour ministers and junior ministers.
Pandemonium exploded. Overnight it was estimated that up to half of the Fianna Fail TDs were ready to support a vote of no confidence when parliament resumed the following morning.
The next day, having lost the confidence of the Dail and his own party, Albert Reynolds announced his intention to resign as Taoiseach. His speech was brief and delivered with great dignity and he said that he would not advise the President to dissolve the Dail.
Reynolds said that his decision was necessary in order to maintain political stability and particularly to ensure the survival of the Northern Ireland peace process. Emotion showed through only briefly, when he thanked his wife Kathleen, their children and grandchildren for their tremendous support. Later that day, he resigned as leader of the Fianna Fail party.
The motion of "no confidence" was dropped and the Dail agreed to adjourn. When the session concluded, both colleagues and opponents lined up to shake hands with Reynolds who was with the Attorney General in the overheard to remark, "It's amaz-case. ing. You cross the big hurdles
The following day, Reynolds ex- ^l^oITJ™£ ^ ^ plained that critical new evidence ones' 7™ 8et tnPPed-had come to light. He admitted Later that afternoon, he went to that he had received this infor- Aras an Uachtarain (the
President's official residence) to tender his resignation with that of his ministers, to President Robinson. As he left, he told re-
Rumours of interference in politics and obstruction of justice by the Catholic hierarchy were heard. Cardinal Cahal Daly gave an interview expressing anger at suggestions that he intervened
mation the day before, however, "was not supplied with speaking material to insert" into his earlier speech.
. porters that when he became Whelehan explained that the Z^iS^J^th^tS'^Jft Taoiseach, he had two priorities, warrant had never been brought ^!^^^I^L^1^ One was to bring an end to the
killing in the North and the other was to build a sound economy.
to his attention. He claimed that the person actually dealing with the matter had taken "special care," since the alleged offence had taken place many years ago.
case was the first of its kind to be considered since new extradition legislation came into force in 1987 and as a result, this added to the delay in dealing with the case.
This explanation was not satisfactory and Spring demanded a postponement in the appointment of Whelehan to the High Court, pending further investigation.
Reynolds said that while he was prepared to answer questions re
He was pleased to say that he had accomplished both.
Within hours, Whelehan resigned as President of the High Court, just two days after his appointment. He said that his resignation was "to prevent the office of the President of the High Court being further embroiled in public controversy."
In a brief statement handed to
The new information revealed that an almost identical case had been dealt with most expeditiously in 1992. This case concerned a former clerical student named Duggan who was also accused of sexually abusing children and the paperwork had garSing the extradition, he was been signed by former Attorney members of the press, he reiter-not prepared for a further delay General Whelehan. ated that he had never seen any
in appointing Whelehan. , „ . . , „„ .„ „,,..__„ papers relating to the extradi-
- , * In light of these revelations, ft £ t fo* s th ior tQ
When Reynolds put the matter Reynolds admitted that Spring's th Dj?iest's convinction in to a vote, Spring, along with his reservations about Whelehan Belfa£ he denied A e Labour Party colleagues walked were well-founded. He said that h d ' made repreSenta-out of the room in protest. The had he been aware of this matter tiong behalf f g^ h and vote proceeded and it was unani- earlier he would not have con- d hi t fo & j
mously agreed that the Attorney sidered Whelehan a suitable candidate for the position of President of the High Court.
General be nominated as President of the High Court.
In an emergency meeting lasting seven hours, Labour Ministers met to discuss the situation. A spokesperson for the party stressed the seriousness of the situation, indicating that it could lead to another general election.
Martin McGuinness of Sinn Fein
in memory which prevented his mentioning the Duggan case to the Taoiseach.
Opposition leaders were scathing in their criticism of Reynolds. Spring addressed the Dail saying that he had been prepared to accept the Taoiseach's explanations and apology but in light of Reynolds having been fully aware of the significance of the
He said that had he remembered the Duggan case, it would have served as proof that he had not delayed the Smyth case on the basis that he was dealing with a priest.
Although it seems hard to find
. .. information about the Duggan anything funny about the whole expressed grave concern at the cage befofe Ws gpeech/ he6|nd sai affair, Irish cartoonists have
possibility of a change in government in Dublin, saying such a move could have serious implications for the peace process. He said, "We are all hoping at this late stage that common sense
his colleagues in the Labour had a field day. One in The Phoe Party would be supporting the nix magazine showed a priest in vote of "no confidence." an administration office with
„ ... three doors labelled: "Church
He then announced his resigna- m Diocesan Files. Pedo-tion as Tanaiste and Minister for pbiies «
eawum
The Perfect Solution to your Gift Giving Dilemmas - Suttles & Seawinds Ruffle Romance Nighties. Beautiful White Cotton Lawn (available in sizes S, M, L. LL) Boxed, Gift Wrapped and Posted to Anywhere in Canada for Only $99 (taxes not included)
WATERFRONT CENTRE. CONCOURSE LEVEL. 200 BURRARD STREET. VANCOUVER 688-1612