Cowen and SF clash in Ryan battle

THE election campaign heated up yesterday with Taoiseach Brian Cowen and Sinn Féin getting into a war of words over the crucial European Parliament race in Dublin.

At a press conference yesterday morning Mr Cowen urged people not to vote for Sinn Féin or the Socialist Party, both of which oppose the Lisbon treaty.

Sitting Fianna Fáil MEP Eoin Ryan is locked in a battle with Sinn Féin MEP Mary Lou McDonald and the Socialist Party’s Joe Higgins for the third and final seat in Dublin.

Mr Cowen claimed Sinn Féin and Socialist policies would not bring one job or euro of investment to Dublin. Similarly, Green leader John Gormley, while not mentioning Sinn Féin, urged party supporters to give their transfers, or second preference votes, to "pro-European" candidates.

But Sinn Féin president Gerry Adams hit back, accusing the Government parties, former PD leader Mary Harney and Fine Gael of "cynical politics".

On Sunday, Fine Gael director of elections Frank Flannery suggested his party was willing to reconsider its long-held opposition to Sinn Féin and enter coalition with the party at a future date.

Although Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny disassociated himself from the comments, they were interpreted as an attempt by the party to attract transfers from Sinn Féin in key areas.

Justice Minister Dermot Ahern said it was "stomach-churning" that Fine Gael was reaching out to a party which refused to condemn the IRA murder of Det Garda Jerry McCabe.

Health Minister Mary Harney then called on voters in Dublin to back Eoin Ryan rather than Mary Lou McDonald.

But Mr Adams accused the Government partners and Fine Gael of talking "rubbish" when far more serious matters were at stake. "Instead of talking about how to keep people in work, how to protect public services, how to dismantle the golden circle that has almost destroyed this state, they are talking nonsense," he said.

He found Mr Ahern’s remarks particularly "offensive". "His remarks echo nearly to a word what John Major famously said – that his stomach would turn – and at that point he said that Sinn Féin would have to go through a process of decontamination. This was way back in 1993.

"[But] we’re in government [in the North], we’re doing a good job in government. The people who vote for us throughout the island are as worthy of respect as those who vote for any other party.

"He can disagree with us – that isn’t an issue. But at a time when we have put such an effort into keeping things right in the North, and working the all-Ireland institutions, and working with the DUP... I think he should withdraw his remarks."

The Socialist Party, meanwhile, claimed Ms Harney’s endorsement of Mr Ryan would prove "the kiss of death" for him.

"The hapless Eoin must have felt his political lifeblood chill as Harney’s cold kiss of political support sealed his fate," Joe Higgins said. "Already spurned by many categories of workers from airport staff to teachers – all victims of Fianna Fáil’s slash-and-burn response to the Fianna Fáil-induced crash – now every nurse, doctor, hospital attendant and taxi driver whom Harney has alienated in her day will join the revolt."

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