The Cedar Lounge Revolution

Reading the latest edition of the Phoenix today I noticed that a piece on Joe Behan which took pains to point out that the newly Independent TD had been sponsored by Brian Cowen when going for the Fianna Fáil nomination, and this might, as it were, have implications for his future (and it had some interesting thoughts as to why he might have jumped now).

And what should I read in the Irish Times from Thursday but the following?

THE TAOISEACH has rejected opposition claims that the Government is using Oireachtas committees as “the private property of Fianna Fáil” by removing former Fianna Fáil TD Joe Behan and Independent Finian McGrath from three of them.

And Behan was on two, count ‘em two, committees…

Mr Behan (Wicklow) resigned from the party and Mr McGrath (Dublin North Central) withdrew his support from the Government because of the over-70s medical card controversy. Mr Behan was removed from the education committee of which he was convenor and from the finance committee, while Mr McGrath was removed from the justice committee.

Ah well, the wrath of a Taoiseach spurned and all that…

One wonders how long it will take for a new Technical Group to emerge in light of this development. I’d heard that Behan was – for the moment – content to remain in solitary splendour as a mark of respect to his former mentor. So the hopes of Sinn Féin and McGrath may be dashed once more. Or is it that Cowen is hoping that this might prod the prodigal Behan back to Fianna Fáil. If so he seems to be using altogether too much stick and not enough carrot. As the isolation sets in it may well harden Behan’s heart.

Although, in fairness, Cowen did have a point when he argued that:

…the Government needed to have a working majority for legislative committees and the Opposition would do the same. The motion was approved by 81 to 73 votes.

Still, the optics Taoiseach, the optics. Though, really, did he believe that McGrath was utterly dependable as a pro-government voice?

It doesn’t look good, even if it is politically necessary. And I would suggest that all this activity, rather than seeming decisive, adds to an impression of a government that is far from stable.

It might have been better to let the dust settle a little… but, as we’re learning, that’s not the way of the current crowd. Shoot first, ask questions later. And as we’ve seen – repent with remarkable speed at the collateral damage.