Either the Taoiseach or his former Minister, Mr Ned O'Keeffe, was not telling the truth about events surrounding Mr O'Keeffe's resignation, the Labour leader, Mr Ruairi Quinn, said yesterday.
Mr Quinn said: "One of them is not telling the truth. Ned O'Keeffe says somebody bullied him into resignation, but the Taoiseach says no pressure was put on Ned O'Keeffe.
"Clearly there is a conflict and this is clearly in line with the Taoiseach's style of management. He will appear in public anywhere as long as he does not have to accept responsibility for hard decision-making."
While he would be questioning Mr Ahern about the apparent inconsistency in the Dail, Mr Quinn said unfortunately damage had already been done to the agriculture industry by Mr O'Keeffe.
"This is a real problem for Irish producers of food. We export 90 per cent of our beef. If buyers don't trust us, is it any wonder that markets such as Egypt collapse?
"The other side of the confidence issue in beef is the milk industry and between beef and milk you have the bulk of Irish agriculture, that is what suffers," he maintained.
:quality(70)/s3.amazonaws.com/arc-authors/irishtimes/8a09a42a-bf7b-491e-848d-432f8309b3fa.png)