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JUST when they think they're out, they get pulled back in -- Labour is living Michael Corleone's famous line from 'The Godfather'.
No matter what the party does to put out the fires that have sprung up in the past few weeks, a match has been put to a tinder-dry field.
James Reilly's primary care list, followed by Roisin Shortall's resignation, followed by Ms Shortall accusing Tanaiste Eamon Gilmore of abandoning her.
A week ago today, Ms Shortall made clear her feelings that Mr Gilmore had abandoned her for Dr Reilly in a devastating interview.
Maybe Labour felt that ended it, but Dr Reilly came to the fore again this week, with more humiliation for Labour. Ruairi Quinn was given incorrect information by Dr Reilly's staff about the selection of a primary care site, and admitted to being "mad as hell".
But, by Thursday night, Labour could have been forgiven for again thinking it had got over the latest episodes, after Mr Gilmore met with Dr Reilly, Tony O'Brien, the acting head of the HSE, and Ambrose McLoughlin, the secretary of the Department of Health.
In itself, it was a significant move from Mr Gilmore to demand the meeting and seek assurances from Dr Reilly that he had no role in the selection of primary care sites, following the controversy over the selection of the Balbriggan site, which is owned by a supporter of the health minister.
The Tanaiste sought the meeting after Labour was incensed about how Mr Quinn had been dragged into the whole affair.
Because of the bum steer he was given, Mr Quinn wrongly told the Dail the Balbriggan site, owned by Fine Gael supporter Seamus Murphy, was chosen by former health minister Mary Harney.
His claim during Leader's Questions led to cheers from the Labour benches, compounding the insult when it was revealed he was wrong -- the site was chosen under Dr Reilly's tenure.
And not only was Mr Quinn sent out to bat for a Fine Gael minister with the wrong information, he was defending the minister whose actions caused Ms Shortall to resign.
"I was mad as hell," Mr Quinn told RTE yesterday. "You cannot and shouldn't mislead the Dail."
And yesterday, Mr Gilmore was forced again to defend himself over Ms Shortall's resignation, following an internal email from party chairman Colm Keaveney, which said there was a secret "context" to the whole affair.
The only context was the stability of the Government, Mr Gilmore insisted yesterday, but Labour is still unhappy.
"We feel he should be doing a better job," a senior Labour source said of Dr Reilly last night.
"Are we entirely happy with the Budget overruns and the implementation of the Programme for Government? No.
"There are people looking for Reilly's head on a plate but if you do that, who next? Going in and asking for James Reilly's head would be the same as Enda Kenny coming in asking for Joan Burton's. They're both deputy leaders."
So while Enda Kenny can grin to himself this weekend over his cover story in the European issue of 'Time' magazine, Mr Gilmore has to grin and bear his own lot in Government.
Irish Independent
