The argument over the right of party leaders to ask the Taoiseach topical questions in the Dail has split Opposition parties and could result in Fine Gael voting with the Government on the matter next week.
The dispute centres on the right to ask the Taoiseach, Mr Ahern, questions on current issues each day, which was withdrawn recently by the Ceann Comhairle, Mr Seamus Pattison, following an argument.
In the Dail yesterday the Green Party TD, Mr John Gormley, said the new Fine Gael party had spurned the advances of the smaller parties and the Independent TDs. "It now seems that it will hop into bed with Fianna Fail. I hope it enjoys its temporary pleasure because hell hath no fury like a Green Party spurned."
The Government yesterday accepted a Fine Gael proposal to reintroduce the practice of allowing the questions, through a standing order. However, it insisted the Fine Gael motion, to be taken on Tuesday, also include a call on all parties to return to talks on Dail reform.
According to the proposed standing order, which Fine Gael has described as a "simple and immediate remedy", the Fine Gael leader and the Labour leader would be allowed to ask one question of the Taoiseach on a topical issue. However, the Green Party deputies, single party deputies and other Independent deputies would be excluded.
The agreement between Fine Gael and the Government was also greeted with anger by the Labour Party whip, Mr Emmet Stagg, who said his party would vote against the motion. He said it was "an impertinence" that there was an attempt to get his party to return to the Dail Reform Committee which it recently withdrew from in protest at Government proposals to increase the amounts that candidates can spend in a general election.
Mr Stagg said it was presumptuous of Fine Gael to table this kind of motion. "I am sure the Government is happy to go along with Fine Gael, which will put members into a straitjacket, the result of which will be much worse that what we complained about previously."
Speaking in the Dail yesterday the Fine Gael leader, Mr Michael Noonan, said he had no problem joining the Green Party or any other group so that the previous situation which existed regarding the topical questions included them. However, he pointed out, Fine Gael was a separate party.