Ahern, Harney differ on Ellis case

Differences emerged last night between the Taoiseach and the Tanaiste over Mr John Ellis's controversial chairmanship of the …

Differences emerged last night between the Taoiseach and the Tanaiste over Mr John Ellis's controversial chairmanship of the Dail Committee on Agriculture and the Marine.

Mr Ahern said Mr Ellis was being attacked for something that happened in 1986 and 1987, "things that are really consigned to history".

However, Ms Harney said Mr Ellis should reflect on what his Fianna Fail colleagues, the party chairman and the Government Chief Whip were telling him.

She also said the view of the Progressive Democrats Minister of State, Ms Liz O'Donnell, that Mr Ellis should consider his position had been expressed to her by many members of the Fianna Fail party over the last few days.

READ MORE

Both Mr Ahern and Ms Harney made it clear that the matter was now for the Dail committee and they were not going to interfere.

A spokesman for Mr Ahern said last night the Taoiseach was neither "backing or condemning John Ellis".

Speaking in London at a Fianna Fail fund-raising lunch on his way back from Kosovo, Mr Ahern said: "I am far more concerned about generating economic activity for the country, solving the difficulties in Northern Ireland, giving a future to young people rather than talking about things that are really consigned to history."

He said the Dail committee would meet next week and could make its judgment.

When asked his views on Ms O'Donnell's comments, Mr Ahern said: "I am not aware of those comments."

In Cork, Ms Harney said Ms O'Donnell was perfectly entitled to express her view. When asked if the matter was causing tension between the Government parties, she replied: "I don't think so."

It is understood Mr Ahern will be meeting the Chief Whip, Mr Seamus Brennan, and the party chairman, Dr Rory O'Hanlon, tomorrow or Monday when they will report on their meeting with Mr Ellis.

It is expected the Fianna Fail members of the Agriculture Committee will also meet in advance of the Wednesday meeting in which Fine Gael will table a motion of no confidence in Mr Ellis's chairmanship.

Fianna Fail has nine members on the committee, Fine Gael six, Labour one and Independents three.