THE Fianna Fail leader, Mr Ahern, has renewed his attack on "the dissent, disunity and disarray, pervading the words and actions of the Coalition parties.
Following moves by the Coalition party leaders to play down the differences between the Tanaiste, Mr Spring, and the Minister of State, Mr Rabbitte, over plans to tackle long term unemployment, Mr Ahern said last night that there was a danger that competitive politics inside the Cabinet might have "serious negative effects on the peace process."
At the Forum for Peace and Reconciliation yesterday, the Taoiseach, Mr Bruton said he saw no problem with different ideas emerging among the Coalition partners on how to deal with unemployment. Mr Bruton told RTE radio he had convened a special Cabinet meeting last autumn and invited after the parties to contribute their ideas.
Mr Spring, asked if he was annoyed by Mr Pat Rabbitte's intervention in the unemployment debate, said: "There are ways of doing business". The best way to make one's views known was in the Cabinet and the Minister for State (Mr Rabbitte) had access to the Cabinet.