Gilmore unaware of warning to Childers

TÁNAISTE AND Labour leader Eamon Gilmore yesterday insisted party MEP Nessa Childers had not been told to keep quiet about her opposition to the Government’s nomination of the Department of Finance’s secretary general Kevin Cardiff to a senior European job.

Ms Childers, MEP for Ireland East, is understood to have written to Labour’s secretary general Ita McAuliffe to outline her concerns about the issue, following Ms Childers’s outspoken criticism of the Coalition’s nominee to the European Court of Auditors.

Speaking to reporters in the European Parliament in Brussels last week, Ms Childers said she was “not happy” with the proposed appointment. She added: “I somehow think it is inappropriate in light of everything that has gone on in recent years that he is appointed. What does it say to the Irish people?”

Ms Childers could not be reached for comment last night. Earlier yesterday she claimed in an interview with RTÉ that she was threatened with expulsion from the party over her opposition. She also said she was warned not to give any interviews on the subject. Ms Childers said a Labour politician had left a voicemail on her mobile phone to that effect, although she did not name the person.

Ms Childers described how she made a call in advance of an interview on RTÉ’s Six One News and was warned she “could end up in court”. Ms Childers also received voice mails warning that if she continued there would be a recommendation for her expulsion from the party.

However, Mr Gilmore yesterday said he had no idea about anyone warning Ms Childers not to speak to the media. “This is news to me,” he claimed.

“I don’t know. We don’t operate on the basis of threats, we have a system whereby we discuss these issues collectively, we have a very open system, if any members of the parliamentary party have a difficulty in relation to any issue we have a process whereby that can be discussed with the whips, with me or with the leadership of the party.”