Political choice of Foreign Affairs Minister
Haughey challenged the choice of Dooge, asking whether it implied that no Fine Gael parliamentarian was capable of serving as Foreign Affairs Minister, and later urged the Taoiseach to appoint someone from the west of Ireland. The Taoiseach responded with a sarcastic expression of gratitude for the Opposition’s concern.
Does the Taoiseach regard the appointment of Professor Dooge to the designate office of Foreign Affairs as a clear indication that in his view out of the 50 odd members of Fine Gael——
Comment on this
I am excluding those members who are office holders already. There are able and experienced parliamentarians in Fine Gael but does the Taoiseach not accept that appointing Professor Dooge in this way is equivalent to saying to his party that not one of them is capable of being a Minister for Foreign Affairs?
Comment on this
Rarely have any Government entered office with so much concern being expressed for them and their supporters as has been the case with this Government. We are most grateful for the kind wishes emanating from the other side of the House.