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THE SECOND INSTALLMENT of RTÉ’s two-part series on the inner workings of Brian Cowen’s government looks at how Fianna Fáil was always doomed to fail – not because of the series of mishaps after the 2008 banking guarantee but because its party model was essentially flawed.
The political model refined by Bertie Ahern and implemented by Brian Cowen focused on short-term electoral gain, the makers of Crisis: Inside the Cowen Government said ahead of tonight’s episode.
Tonight’s show highlights how this goal of retaining power led to the whole country paying a “heavy price”.
Picking up at the annual Fianna Fáil think-in at Galway in September 2010, the documentary features Morning Ireland presenter Cathal MacCoille talking about that infamous morning-after interview with the then-Taoiseach.
Cowen was accused of being hungover for the radio interview and various ministers recount their recollections of the chaotic aftermath of his performance.
The focus then shifts to mid-November when members of Cabinet were denying talks about a rescue package were taking place.
However, as Dermot Ahern called the bailout rumours “fiction” on national TV, department of finance officials were in Brussels for negotiations.
John McGuinness said that, as a backbencher, he could not believe that Ahern (and other senior ministers) were so disconnected.
“Is this how Cabinet is functioning?” he asked. “We were just backbenchers so were not likely to be informed of these things.”
Meanwhile, in Brussels, Brian Lenihan was looking for a “bespoke” programme for Ireland, his special advisor Alan Aherne reveals. He describes how the Finance Minister wanted to keep bank and sovereign debts separate.
The arrival of the IMF signalled the beginning of the disintegration of the administration – and the end of Cowen’s political career.
As 2011 dawned, fresh revelations about Cowen’s contacts with Anglo’s disgraced chairman Seán Fitzpatrick emerged, prompting a vote of confidence in his leadership.
His party members recall the conversations they held with Cowen ahead of that vote in tonight’s documentary. Mary Hanafin remembers telling Cowen to step aside “in the interest of the party”. Willie O’Dea echoed those sentiments.
McGuinness says he was “devastated” when Lenihan came out in support of Cowen.
However, Cowen’s victory in that vote of confidence and the resignation of six ministers led to the attempted cabinet reshuffle, which Hanafin believes was his biggest failure of judgement.
Many advised against such a “crazy” move – even Green Party leader John Gormley texted the Taoiseach warning him not to go ahead with the plan.
The Government Chief Whip John Curran observes, “The fact that the Taoiseach of the day wasn’t in a position to appoint cabinet ministers, he was well aware that was a position that wasn’t tenable, thats one of the key functions of a Taoiseach and when that’s gone, yeah there were issues and problems.”
The programme will be broadcast on RTÉ One at 9.35pm today.
More: Cowen’s ministers felt pressured to approve bank guarantee – documentary>
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Well done to the Customs and Garda.
Great Job done by guards and customs again ..
Good work, cost me €1200 to get my injectors replaced because of washed fuel from a “reputable” filling station.
Report that station to the police. If you had to replace injectors your probably not alone. I wouldn’t let them off if they are making a quick buck which ends up costing customers costly repair work.
I already did Derek, so did alot of people in my area, they were shut down by customs about 2 months ago. 2 brothers from dundalk were running the station. Only found this out after they were shut down. All the staff were locals and hadn’t a clue what was going on
A certain supermarket chain of petrol stations are notoriously guilty of that
My husband’s family live near the border, in a rural area. They can point out the lorries, drive you past the laundering plants and name the people involved. They like most people in the area (and judge them how you like for this, but they have to live there) just say nothing and ignore it.
I’ve heard people say (and obviously this is no more than a feeling or hunch) that there is a certain ‘tolerance’ for this by the authorities. Plants that appear to operate openly, for months/years, are one day raided. Some people say (and this would be just hearsay) that on those days the stock is low, equipment has been moved and there are fewer lorries than normal.
I have heard people say they’ve seen customs vehicles regularly pass these lorries and farms in the time they operate, a long, long time before action is taken.
Of course I have no evidence of anything I’ve written above. It’s most likely just local gossip or an urban (or rural) legend.
Well Katie if there was no illegal fuel laundering there would be less Garda & customs overtime.
Same with the overall limerick gang situation. I guess the guards could shut them down in an instant…but why would they…the guards have the most to lose!!!!!!
that is serious bullshit!!!
Three people arrested-that’s hardly called tolerance!
Surely in this day and age we regulate this more effectively. Why can’t farmers keep all receipts for diesel and submit them with their monthly/annual returns to get a tax rebate. X amount of litres allowed per annum based on Y number of registered farm vehicles.
In a simple stroke, diesel laundering would stop, or am I missing something?
You need the North to stop too.
How do haulage contractors run their trailer units (refrigeration)
How do I prove I used a certain amount in my Generator…. etc etc….
Plus we are too damm lazy !
Public servant jobs and overtime.
Good system but i could give the farmer my receipts & split the money & theres the new fiddle. Not an easy fix this however if you target the buyers take vehicles & property where they knew what they were buying I think this would be better.
The problem is that the courts do not regard this as serious crime. A recent case saw a man covicted of laundery 6,000 litres PER DAY! When arrested he refused to say where he was taking the stuff or who his accomplices were. Sentence…two years, yes two years suspended. Where’s the deterrent.nnThe solution is to abolish agricultural deisel and repay the tax to farmers against receipts from the oil delivery company.
Just remember lads. If you’re driving back to Dundalk from Blaney, don’t go through Culaville or the siezed goods and plant will be taken off you AGAIN ! http://www.thejournal.ie/customs-truck-carrying-fuel-laundering-evidence-hijacked-and-set-alight-148712-Jun2011/
The reasons these operations are not just taken out immediately are as seen with this one! The authorities wait and ensure the plant is operating and that there are individuals present! I don’t think that you can say that three arrests are the result of the authorities having a low tolerance! I don’t think you can really criticise when on one hand you say the locals turn a blind eye and then say nothing is done! People need to take responsibly for what is going on on their own doorstep before blaming others for inaction!
O No! Not again……. (“,)
Fuel laundering in a border county?
Never!
Sorry but can someone explain how oil is laundered – do they mean diesel??
Agricultural diesel is sold at a lower price to farmers. It is marked with a red dye which can be detected by the Gardai if used in a private car.These smugglers buy or steal ag. diesel and use chemicals to wash out the red colour.These chemicals are very bad for modern diesels as they can affect the injectors and the mirror finish on their high efficiency fuel pumps.
What a lot of people don’t know is that there is a similar scam concerning petrol.Additives which are bad for the engine can be added to “stretch” the petrol.
Slippery !!!!!!!!!!!!
They should just advertise that this kind of fuel will damage your car costing you more in the end. Then people wouldn’t want it.
the people don’t know they are buying it most petrol stations are in on the scam there making a fortune selling it to unsuspecting drivers it ruins modern deisel engines you would be better off using the agriculture diesel before it was washed and take your chance st least it won’t ruin your engine
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