Rumours 'Beneath Contempt' As Sargent Resigns

The Government has said allegations that a leak leading to Coalition Minister Trevor Sargent's swift resignation had come from within Fianna Fail are "beneath contempt".

Fianna Fail's Timmy Dooley said today that attempts by the leader of the Labour Party to "insinuate a conspiracy" over Trevor Sargent’s resignation is beneath contempt and "not surprising".

The former Green Party coalition member, and minister of state Trevor Sargent made a quick exit from the Daíl last night as allegations emerged yesterday that he had written to Gardaí demanding charges were dropped against one of his constituents.

Gardaí Commissioner Fachtna Murphy said yesterday he had requested an urgent report over the allegations.

Speaking yesterday Labour Leader Eamon Gilmore said Trevor Sargent had acted with dignity and honour by tendering his resignation but added there were some aspects of the affair that required further explanation.

Mr Gilmore said: "How was it that this correspondence landed in the lap of the Evening Herald only now, some two years after they were written? Are we to believe that it was purely coincidental that this followed so soon after the enforced resignation of Willie O’Dea last week?

"In particular we need to know when the Department of Justice first became aware of this correspondence."

However, this morning, the governing party Fianna Fail responded with anger to the insinuations, with Minister Dooley saying: "The Labour leader is resorting to throwing things out there in the hope that a rumour can be made fly.

"It’s the old ‘make them deny it’ tactic and he has nothing to base it on. It’s beneath contempt but not surprising."

The Taoiseach has announced this morning he had accepted the resignation of Mr Trevor Sargent TD as Minister of State last night.

In accepting Mr Sargent’s resignation, the Taoiseach said: "I have received Deputy Sargent’s letter of resignation which I accept with the utmost regret in the circumstances.

"Trevor Sargent has been a most constructive and positive member of the Government’s team. He displayed an outstanding commitment to his job and has always worked well with his colleagues in the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries & Food.

"I know that Trevor vigorously pursued his responsibilities in the Department and can be satisfied that his time there has been very productive in furthering his objectives in that regard.

"On a personal level, I accept that Trevor’s intention was to act in good faith, as outlined in his statement to the House and wish him well for the future."

(DW/GK)