Backbencher Seeks Taoiseach's Resignation

A Fianna Fáil backbencher has called on Brian Cowen to resign as Taoiseach and leader of Fianna Fáil over his controversial reshuffle.

Speaking on KCLR 96 FM this morning, outspoken TD John McGuinness, called for Brian Cowen to resign in the midst of his reshuffle of the Cabinet, which he claimed put the party and tribalism before the country and lacked vision.

The Carlow/Kilkenny TD, who was sacked from his junior minister position last year said there was serious disquiet within the parliamentary party and he had raised questions about Mr Cowen's leadership at the parliamentary party meeting yesterday.

Mr McGuinness said: 'He had every opportunity to right the wrongs. It is my personal opinion that he should consider his position.'

The former Junior Minister called for a new style of politics and said there are people in Fianna Fáil who could step forward and give the necessary leadership.

The Taoiseach has come in for major criticism from all sides over his reshuffle with the main opposition party in the Daíl calling yesterday's reshuffle a "botch job" for it's failure to appoint a Minister for Employment.

Brian Cowen announced the details of his reshuffle on Monday, which saw six Government ministers given new roles in the Cabinet, two junior ministers being promoted and four current Ministers moving to different departments.

Five Government departments were also reconfigured with the Taoiseach saying the changes were designed to support the core objectives of economic recovery, job creation and support for those who have lost their jobs.

However, Fine Gael Enterprise, Trade and Employment Spokesperson Leo Varadkar TD, speaking in the Dáil debate on the reshuffle accused the Government of forgetting about jobs and described the reshuffle as a ‘botch job’.

“Cowen has abolished the Department of Employment. No Government Department now has employment or jobs in its title when the country is facing the worst unemployment crisis in a generation. He could have combined all employment functions including benefits paid to adults of working age to a new department of employment and benefits.

“This reshuffle is a total botch job. Responsibility for FÁS has been divided among three Departments – Enterprise, Trade & Innovation, Social Protection and Education & Skills. The troubled agency will be overseen by three Ministers who will inevitably pass the buck from one to the other."

(DW/BMcC)