The Labour Party last night called on the Tanaiste, Ms Harney, to give a "full and frank explanation" of her involvement in the EU air noise directive controversy.
The party spokesman on Public Enterprise, Mr Pat Rabbitte, said confirmation yesterday that Ms Harney discussed the directive with Mr Ulick McEvaddy earlier this year and attended the European Council of Ministers meeting on April 29th, at which it was adopted but deferred for a year, demanded an explanation.
A spokesman for Ms Harney last night confirmed a report in the Sunday Tribune that Mr McEvaddy approached Ms Harney at a function some months ago and discussed the directive. She asked an official in her Department to check the matter out and he reported that there was no case to be made to the Minister for Public Enterprise, Ms O'Rourke, or at European level. Mr McEvaddy told the High Court three weeks ago his air business would be at a loss of £26 million if the directive was implemented.
The spokesman for Ms Harney said the fact she was at the meeting of the European Council of Ministers at which the directive was adopted was not significant. He said the vote was unanimous and there was no discussion.
He said the decision to defer the introduction of the regulations was a compromise formulated by the European Commission, and responsibility for the regulations lay with Ms O'Rourke.
Mr Rabbitte said the Tanaiste had been economical with the truth during the week. The fact that she was at the European meeting and that she discussed the matter with Mr McEvaddy added a new dimension to the story.
"The Tanaiste needs to clear this matter up once and for all. The opposition have been blamed for over-blowing this matter, but she needs to make a full statement on this."