Ahern attacks Fine Gael over 'gutter comments'

Taoiseach Bertie Ahern has accused Fine Gael TDs of using "gutter comments" during yesterday's Dáil debate on a motion of no confidence against him.

"Unfortunately, I felt that some of the new Fine Gael people were bringing a new low into it," Mr Ahern told reporters at the National Ploughing Championships in Tullamore.

"At one stage they wanted to talk about cleaning up politics, and then they brought in the gutter comments," he said. "I'm big enough to take it, but when you hear a new deputy who isn't a wet day in the place not alone castigating me but castigating Tony Blair and Bill Clinton, I wish him well. I'd say he'd get an early exit."

Mr Ahern said he was confident the situation would not affect the coalition Government, which he predicted would be in place until June or May 2012.

Asked how long he was going to stay in office, Mr Ahern said: "For a long, long time."

Fine Gael had tabled a motion of no confidence in the Taoiseach, prompted by his four days of evidence on his financial affairs to the Mahon tribunal.

A counter motion by the Government expressing confidence in Mr Ahern was supported by Fianna Fáil, Progressive Democrat and Green TDs as well as Independents Michael Lowry, Finian McGrath, and Jackie Healy-Rae.

The Government motion was passed by 81 votes to 76 when put to a vote in the Dáil last night.

Fine Gael, Labour, Sinn Féin and Independent Tony Gregory, Dublin Central, voted against the Government.

Fianna Fáil TD Ned O'Keeffe missed the vote and was absent without leave, according to party sources. Mr Ahern avoided the question of whether or not action would be taken against Mr O'Keeffe. "I haven't been whip for 24 years, I don't know who voted, to be honest with you," he said.