Willie O’Dea resigns as Minister for Defence

Limerick T.D Willie O’Dea stood down from his ministerial post Thursday evening concluding days of controversy after he admitted an affidavit he gave to the High Court last year was untrue.

Taoiseach Brian Cowen confirmed Willie O’Dea tendered his resignation as Minister for Defence and the President has accepted it.

“I have come to the regrettable conclusion that my continuing in office will only serve to distract from the important and vital work of Government in addressing the serious challenges that the country continues to face at this time,” O’Dea said in tendering his resignation.

Willie O’Dea’s Resignation Letter

He said he has at all times acted in the interests of the Government of the people.

“It is my belief that I have acted honourably and in good faith in the conduct of my duties as a Minister,” he said in his letter to Brian Cowen.

The Taoiseach thanked Mr. O’Dea in a letter Thursday night for his hard work and commitment in carrying out his duties as Minister.

“I believe that you have made a significant contribution to the Governments in which you have served and have shown great skill in overseeing the modernisation of the Defence Forces.”

The Taoiseach said he has assigned the Department of Defence to himself for the time being.

Willie O’Dea has been a member of Dail Eireann for 28 years and has been Minister for Defence since 2004.

Political Reaction

Fine Gael Leader, Enda Kenny,

“Resigning his position in Cabinet must have been very difficult for Willie O’Dea and a very trying event for his family. However, Willie O’Dea’s resignation was an inevitable consequence of his swearing of a false affidavit before the High Court.”

Labour Leader, Eamon Gilmore,

“The resignation of Willie O’Dea as Minister for Defence was inevitable once the full details of his conduct emerged over recent days, including the release of the tape and his RTE interview today. The process of Mr. O’Dea’s departure was hastened by the approach of the Taoiseach and that of his Fianna Fail colleagues in the Dail during this week.”

Sinn Fein Dail Leader, Caoimhghin O Caolain,

“Minister O’Dea had become totally unsuitable for Ministerial office given his gross defamation of an election candidate, his false denial of that defamation in a spurious affidavit to the High Court and his unapologetic performance in the Dáil on Wednesday.”