Sign in. It’s quick, free and it’s up to you.
An account is an optional way to support the work we do. Find out more.
ONE OF THE more striking suggestions in Eamon Gilmore’s new book is that he was effectively ‘shot at dawn’ after stepping down as Labour party leader in July 2014.
In his new book Inside the Room: The Untold Story of Ireland’s Crisis Government, Gilmore describes how he was informed by his former deputy leader Joan Burton that he was to be excluded from cabinet and denied a European Commissioner post in a terse two-minute conversation at Leinster House following his resignation as leader.
Following the meeting, Gilmore bumped into a senior civil servant and said “I have just been court-martialled and I am to be shot at dawn”.
Gilmore had stepped down following Labour’s dismal performance at last year’s local elections. He is retiring from the Dáil before the next general election, slated for early next year.
Now, Joan Burton has played down suggestions that her denial of a cabinet position for Gilmore amounted to a stab in the back.
“What I would say about Eamon’s book is that it’s a very detailed demonstration of all the work that Labour has been doing in government in order to make things better for people,” she said.
The second thing I would say that is in terms of appointing and selecting a team, he points out himself that that was one of the most difficult and loneliest days of his own life as leader.
I’ve said before, I was very anxious to actually provide an opportunity to some of the intake of 2011, some of the newer people, some of the younger people. People like Ged Nash, Aodhán Ó Ríordáin, Ann Phelan, and in doing, as with Eamon, it was difficult to satisfy everybody.
It has been speculated that Burton’s denial of her former leader amounted to a sort of retribution for his own denial of her for the Foreign Affairs position when the government came to power in 2011, a position he then took himself.
Speaking at the launch of ’1916 – Portraits and Lives’ at the Royal Irish Academy she said: ”I’d also like to say that I hope he (Gilmore) has a bestseller for himself in the context of his sterling contributions to politics and to the Labour party of the decades, but also because it should be a bestseller for a very good cause, as he said himself, for the Alzheimer’s Society.”
My job now is to focus obviously on the next general election to actually build the recovery for families and for individuals and communities right across Ireland and also, as Eamon sets out so clearly in the book, the very significant and important role that the Labour party, since we went into government, has brought to this government and to the turnaround and the recovery that we’re now beginning to experience.
“My job is to grow that so that it’s not just an economic recovery, it’s a social recovery as well,” she added.
To embed this post, copy the code below on your site
Kenny has a nice EU commissioner role awaiting him in Brussels, which is his 30 pieces of silver for not burning the bondholders but burdened the Irish taxpayers with debt.
@Permo Dermo: that wasn’t him. Blame that lying bast@rd Brian Cowan for that
@jason bourne: Actually jason it was Enda “its not our debt” that put us on the rack,
@Permo Dermo:
Please. The people who burdened the Irish taxpayers with debt were the public sector unions, who’s refusal to give an inch on their bloated pay and pensions during the recession led to a €20 billion annual deficit, every year. The bank bailout was small change compared to that.
@Fred Jensen: €20 > €64?? oh ya I forgot you’re probably using leprechaun economics.
@Fred Jensen: You are some moron aren’t you if you believe that. Aside from the incontrovertible fact that every public sector employee took a fairly hefty pay cut, one which is only now beginning to be only slightly undone, and had a public sector only pension levy applied, how could anyone forget that it was the failure of private sector organisations – banks and property developers among others – that caused the recession and economic collapse. Don’t be so daft
@Fred Jensen: Fred would you ever cop on to yourself.
Why wasn’t tosser listed.
Well this gombeen ever exit the stage.he sold out his own people in favour of the EU,has to be the most embarrassing leader ever
The sheer arrogance of the man, did the same when it came to announcing the date of the last General Election, flip-flopping around for months, unwilling to inform the Irish people when they would be allowed to cast their vote, forgetting that he is nothing more than a PUBLIC SERVANT. Should be in jail for treason.
Surely Seannachi-in-chief. I know a homeless fella on a bench in merrion square with a pint in each hand who will second him for the role, as soon as he’s finished phoning everyone to tell them how much extra water is in his taps thanks to fine gael.
He wasn’t good enough to be taoiseach never mind any of the other jobs. The fact that the EU people see him as a soft touch to advance their own objectives (hence all the EU praise) will rule him out for all of those jobs. I can’t remember one important decision he’s made in the 6 years he’s been taoiseach, except that announcement for the immigrant vote referendum a few months back which will mean nothing to most of us.
@Adrian: The Aqueduct?
“Recently, there has been speculation that Kenny should be kept on as Brexit minister.”
Why would we want “its not our debt” any were near important discussions…..
40 years as a TD, stayed under the radar for 30 odd years collecting his wages and then spent the past few years keeping his masters in Brussels happy to make sure he gets a plum job in Europe. He’s done very well for “himself” and will be looked after while phase two austerity continues to be implemented under stealth taxes and lack of investment in public services. That’s his legacy and as long as the Irish people continue to FF/FG, many more entitled TD’s will enrich themselves on the back of the gullible Irish voter.
While he collects his Taoiseach’s massive pension pot and then the 100k lump sum and the 30k a year teachers pension, he can think about it.
Prison cell
@Jonathan Yeo: so it’s a crime to save a country from economic ruins?
@Negan: lol
@Negan: what planet are you on, I’d like to visit for a few hours.
What about absolute waster?
Quentin Tarantino is looking for a new gimp for Pulp Fiction 2
Would his incompetence be put up with anywhere else.
@William Clay: Only in the EU…..
He could get a job working for Dinny?
Like Cowan did.
Who would have him the circus wouldn’t take him!!
@vinnie Monaghan. Cos he already holds that job title.
He should be booted out of politics.
Why doesn’t he volunteer and dosomething worthwhile ? Why a job with a big salary and yet another pension?
A bog in his beloved mayo,,bury him in it
@Shane O Malley: Shane with a name like O Malley at u sure u wouldn’t like to be buried with him.
@Shane O Malley: Yes he should go back to mayo & cut turf, at least he would be doing something constructive & not costing the taxpayer more money
Backbencher?
@Dylan McKane: backstabber you mean surely
Go back teaching-ar u. Joking-he couldn’t teach a donkey.He will b over in the canaries rubbing the sun cream onto Finnullas back.
Enda wants the private lick arse job to Merkel.
have your say