Kenny brands FF ministers' comments 'disgraceful'

REACTION:TAOISEACH ENDA Kenny has described as "disgraceful" comments made by Fianna Fáil ministers at the time Bertie Ahern was giving evidence to the planning tribunal.

The Taoiseach was one of several senior Fine Gael ministers who implied the ministers had attempted to undermine the planning tribunal as it set about questioning then taoiseach Bertie Ahern about his personal finances in 2007 and 2008.

Mr Kenny said yesterday that the Government would consider the report’s proposals at a Cabinet meeting next Tuesday and consider its recommendations “in so far as they can be implemented”.

On Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin’s plans to expel former leader Bertie Ahern from the party, Mr Kenny said the party was left with no other choice.

“The brand image of the party has been very seriously damaged by this,” he said.“Obviously, the party had no option in that regard.”

Minister for Finance Michael Noonan said Fianna Fáil had “a big problem” as a party because of the findings of the tribunal against some people “at the top”.

Speaking in Dungarvan, Co Waterford, yesterday, Mr Noonan said the report as a whole had “the capacity to shock”.

Asked if Fianna Fáil should disband, Mr Noonan said: “I think they have a big problem at present because it’s not just minor figures who are involved or being critiqued; this is at a very high level of the party.”

He said, however, there were “an awful lot of decent Fianna Fáil people who are interested in politics and work for their party”.

“It’s a pity if the profession gets tarred because of the actions of a small minority who happened to get a controlling interest in the main party, which was a government party.” It was “a small group of people at the top” who caused this damage, he said.

Fine Gael TD Jerry Buttimer contended Micheál Martin was “inextricably linked to Bertie Ahern” and accused him of being in Mr Ahern’s inner circle and of creating a strategy for him to get through the 2007 general election even after disclosures of payments were leaked. Mr Buttimer represents the same constituency as Mr Martin, Cork South Central.

Several Fine Gael councillors were named by the report. The late Tom Hand was said to have received corrupt payments, as was Liam T Cosgrave, who resigned from the party in 2003. The inquiry found Fine Gael councillor Anne Devitt acted “entirely inappropriately” in accepting a payment of £20,000.

The inquiry also described as “inappropriate” an election donation of £500 received by Fine Gael TD Olivia Mitchell, then a councillor, from Frank Dunlop. However, it found she did not solicit the donation.

In relation to the report’s findings on Fine Gael councillors, Mr Kenny declined to say whether any of those named in the report were likely to face expulsion.

He said Fine Gael’s internal disciplinary committee would meet next week to deal with the report’s findings relating to its personnel.

Fine Gael refused to give any details of which party members are on the disciplinary committee or to which body in the party it is answerable.

“We do not comment on internal procedures,” said a spokesman.