Several Fianna Fail backbenchers are to continue to ignore the party's demand that they seek approval from the party press office before taking part in media interviews, it has emerged.
Cork North Central deputy Mr Noel O'Flynn, who has given several strongly worded interviews on the £50,000 payment to European Commissioner Mr Padraig Flynn, said yesterday he would continue to speak out on behalf of the people of Cork on "issues which they are concerned about".
Mr O'Flynn was verbally abused by Minister of State Mr Noel Davern in the Dail chamber last week following an interview he gave to RTE television on the Flynn issue. During that interview Mr O'Flynn called on Mr Flynn either to make a full statement on the matter and to explain the purpose of the £50,000 donation and what he did with it, or to resign.
Following this interview it is understood that Mr O'Flynn was contacted by the party press officer, Mr Tom Reddy, who asked him why he had not spoken to the party press office in advance. Mr Reddy suggested to Mr O'Flynn that the matter would be taken further.
Mr Reddy said yesterday he could not say what action might be taken against Mr O'Flynn. "It may well be raised at a parliamentary party meeting, but it may not be," he said. The next Fianna Fail parliamentary party meeting takes places on March 24th.
There are tensions between a number of party figures and backbenchers concerning the handling of the Flynn affair. It is understood that when Mr Conor Lenihan approached Mr Davern last week to raise his attack on Mr O'Flynn, Mr Davern sharply rebuked Mr Lenihan as well.
Although Fianna Fail accepted a Dail motion last week indicating that the party wanted Mr Flynn to make a full statement, it is anxious that the issue should not remain a constant subject of news stories and speculation. An attempt to curtail backbench comment on the Flynn affair was made at a parliamentary party meeting on February 10th, where it was said that backbenchers should contact the party press office before giving interviews. Several deputies including Mr O'Flynn, Mr Lenihan and Mr Sean Fleming objected, saying elected representatives should not be answerable to unelected officials for the expression of their views.
Mr O'Flynn said yesterday that he would not discuss "the incident which took place in the Dail chamber. I was elected by the people of Cork to be a voice for Cork and to express their views on issues which concern them and which they are concerned about. I am going to continue to do that."
He said he stood over all the comments he has made on the Flynn affair in the past.