02.22.07
Watching McDowell
We referred earlier to McDowell’s careful phrasing about his “knowledge” but lack of ” involvement” in the McCaffrey arrest. PO’Neill observes over at irishelection that he’s being just as careful over the emergency legislation on the risk equalisation:
“…the Order Paper for yesterday did not include the bill, leading Pat Rabbitte to claim today in the Dail that it was “fraudulent”. And in a response that needs to be parsed very carefully, McDowell claimed that the “decision was made” to bring the bill only yesterday afternoon, after the Order of Business had been submitted. But delaying its tabling was clearly part of the strategy, as the Quinn group apparently could have filed some insurance paperwork to get in before the bill took effect. So the intent to proceed with emergency legislation was clearly present prior to the “decision.” Incidentally, the Order of Business for yesterday now contains a supplement for the emergency bill.”
btw, loved Enda’s line about McDowell being at ” the centre of every story this week except the fall of the Italian government”
P O'Neill said,
February 22, 2007 at 9:47 pm
I also see that the Quinn people met with Mary Harney on Monday. So they meet them on Monday and all of sudden there’s an emergency bill on Wednesday — but McD says the decision was only taken on Wednesday afternoon?
Dan Sullivan said,
February 22, 2007 at 10:09 pm
And the nice segway of the Italian government story coming after Enda’s comments on the RTe news.
I was quite spooked by the tone in his reaction the Labour Civil Union bill.