Swords drawn as Kenny and Cooper Flynn
go to war
14 May 1997
Disunity within Fianna Fail ranks over
Knock controversy
Tom Kelly reports
The kid gloves have been removed as the election campaign in Mayo shifts into overdrive.
Rival Castlebar-based candidates Enda Kenny and Beverley Cooper Flynn are at each other's throats in a bitter war of words over the Knock Airport tax designation announcement.
The 30-years-old Fianna Fail councillor fired a rocket in the Minister's direction when she denounced him of not telling the full truth regarding the proposal by American company, Alliance International, to establish a plant at Knock.She lambasted Kenny for announcing jobs for Mayo 'without a concrete plan being in place,' a statement which was given some substance by a front page report in the Sunday Independent in which reporter Kevin Moore quoted Kenny as saying he made 'an error' in announcing 2,000 jobs for Knock.
Cooper Flynn's criticism did not, surprisingly, win solid support within her own party, however, where a dogfight is underway for political survival.
One of her party colleagues, Seamus Hughes, sensationally turned on her, making public his annoyance over Cooper-Flynn's stand. In what represented a clear sign of disunity within Fianna Fail ranks, Hughes accused Cooper Flynn of chasing newspaper headlines. P.J. Morley, the county's longest serving Dail Deputy, refused to be drawn into the row, but he did congratulate Minister Kenny on the Knock achievement.
The scenario became somewhat clearer in the eyes of an intrigued public when the chairman of the Board of Knock Airport, Mr. Cathal Duffy, a man with a long association with the Fianna Fail party, came out in full support of Minister Kenny's work in achieving the tax designation.
Speaking on RTE television, Mr. Duffy allayed all fears by confirming that a commitment had been secured by the Board of Knock Airport with Alliance International. This resulted in egg being splattered all over the face of Fianna Fail frontbencher Seamus Brennan who had also issued a statement designed to discredit Kenny.
Tensions were understood to be high when Fianna Fail supporters met in the Welcome Inn Hotel during the week to put further arrangements in place for their election campaign. It is understood Cooper Flynn received a very favourable reception at the meeting, and was lauded on her ability to ask the questions that needed to be asked.
But there was some scathing criticism of the Castlebar candidate who was denounced, in one quarter, 'of attempting to sabotage inward investment in Ireland,' and, in another, 'of shooting herself in the head and foot.'
Cooper Flynn defended her corner in typically flamboyant style, stating the story was far from over yet and, as a public representative, it was her duty to seek clarification of different aspects of the story.
CONCRETE PROPOSALS
She said she still could not understand why Minister Kenny went running to the Press with the Knock tax designation story without concrete proposals being put in place.
"I reject Kenny's claim that I was cynical and negative in my response to the announcement. I was quite the opposite, in fact.
"I have been positive in welcoming the announcement from the start, but I had a duty to ask questions when so much confusion was created by the Sunday Business Post and Sunday Independent articles."
In what may be interpreted as a veiled attack on the party's three outgoing T.D.s in the county, she stated: "The Fianna Fail party in Mayo has been crying out for strong opposition, and I will always pose the questions that need to be posed."
Cooper Flynn said Minister Kenny had 'tripped himself up' by rushing the announcement to boost his election campaign.
"I don't think he was too sure of all the details. He had to correct himself on a number of occasions."
She said it was important for people to realise that Fianna Fail always recognised the potential of Knock Airport.
"That is why Fianna Fail built the airport in the first place. Unfortunately our confidence in Knock Airport was not always shared by Fine Gael and their then spokesman Jim Mitchell who accused Fianna Fail of creating a white elephant on a foggy boggy dew."
SEASONED CAMPAIGNER
Enda Kenny, a seasoned political campaigner, was hurt by the attacks made on him following the fulfilment of what is being widely acknowledged as his finest achievement.
He accepted people were entitled to ask questions about such a huge issue as the Knock one, but he did not hide his resentment over what he described as 'Beverley Cooper Flynn's utterly cynical response.'
Perhaps he was stirring the political pot a little bit, too, but there appears to be no doubt that he was angry.
In a statement issued on Wednesday last, May 7th, when the flak was really flying and television reporters were in town looking for the Castlebar office of Alliance International, the Minister said: "Beverley Cooper Flynn's response suggests nothing more than sour grapes on her behalf and the Fianna Fail front bench.
"If they bothered to listen to the facts, indeed if they listened to their own Deputy P.J. Morley, they too would congratulate this Government on its decision to Knock Airport special tax status."
Kenny said he wanted to put the record straight once and for all.
"Following the initial groundwork on this matter, which involved a visit to Dallas, I met with the Minister for Finance on a number of occasions to explain the concept of what Alliance International are doing.
"Fundamental to their argument was the necessity to bring in designation on lands at Knock Airport. The Finance Bill was the obvious vehicle to do this and because of my direct interest in this project, the Government responded enthusiastically by granting designation to Knock Airport. JOB CREATION
"Fianna Fail would love to be able to do the same.
"Alliance International have indicated their enthusiasm for the potential of Knock and I have always said that designation was a critical element of this. Now that this is in place, I am confident that they can and will develop their plan and place proposals before the IDA for job creation.
"I have seen the airport development at Dallas Metroplex which has successfully stimulated several billion dollars of inward investment and the creation of up to 20,000 jobs. By Alliance International's own admission, 2,000 jobs could be created at Knock on a scaled basis."
It is understood the Fianna Fail organisation has issued a directive to its members 'to stand back' from criticising the proposal for the time being at least. They are not, it would seem, interested in adding further fuel to an already blazing political fire. But a defiant Beverley Cooper Flynn is unlikely to toe the party line on that one, and there is destined to be more fireworks before the election campaign ends.
