FINE GAEL has cancelled an event planned for later today, to mark the party’s achievements in a year in government, after criticism from a senior Labour minister.
The event had been planned for Merrion Square for lunchtime, and had been billed as an “opportunity to reflect on the progress that has been made over the last year”.
This morning, however, Fine Gael called off the event after communications minister Pat Rabbitte described the event as “a bit silly”.
The communications minister, on RTÉ’s Morning Ireland, added that he hoped the event would be “a once off”.
His comments followed an Irish Examiner report suggesting Labour figures were displeased at the event, with one source telling Paul O’Brien that Fine Gael was trying to “award itself ‘medals’”.
In a brief press statement Fine Gael said it had been “presumed that the Labour Party would be planning an event similar to the one scheduled by Fine Gael”.
“When it was discovered that this was not the case, it was deemed inappropriate to proceed,” the statement said, adding that the parties remained committed to meeting the challenges facing the country.
Taoiseach Enda Kenny and Tánaiste Eamon Gilmore had held a press event yesterday to mark the first anniversary of the coalition taking power, at which they hailed a year of returning “stability” to Ireland.
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