Senior Progressive Democrats met last night in efforts to heal party divisions as it emerged that the nomination of former judge Mr Hugh O'Flaherty to a senior EU post was not irreversible.
Protests erupted within the party yesterday after senior Government sources confirmed that the Tanaiste, Ms Harney, could have blocked the nomination had she raised objections when consulted over a fortnight ago.
Meanwhile, the European Investment Bank has contradicted claims that Mr O'Flaherty's nomination last Friday as a vice-president cannot be reversed. A spokesman said: "There is no time limitation. If there has to be a change, it can be made. This is a practical institution."
As Government spokesmen insisted the nomination would not be changed, a source close to Ms Harney said the Minister for Finance, Mr McCreevy, had "pushed strongly" for Mr O'Flaherty, and she had agreed to the nomination for pragmatic political reasons. As leader of the smaller Coalition party, she was "not in the business of blocking everything". The source said she had consulted some senior party figures, but conceded some others knew nothing until Friday's announcement.
A Government spokesman insisted yesterday the idea of nominating Mr O'Flaherty came entirely from Mr McCreevy and was argued strongly by him and nobody voiced an objection. There was widespread anger within the PDs yesterday at its role in the appointment of a man who resigned from the Supreme Court a year ago only after the Government threatened to impeach him.
Ms Harney held a series of discussions with party figures yesterday, but Senator Helen Keogh emerged from one such meeting to repeat her position that the nomination further damaged confidence in politics. She said she spoke for PD members "across the board". Ms Harney also spoke to the party chairman, Mr John Minihan, who has criticised the nomination.
The party's four TDs and their advisers discussed the issue last night at what a party spokesman said was their regular Monday evening meeting. The matter will also dominate a meeting of the PD parliamentary party tomorrow. By late last night, no member of the parliamentary party had come out to defend the nomination and none, bar Ms Keogh, responded to telephone messages.
In Fianna Fail, Cork North Central backbencher Mr Billy Kelleher said the nomination was "sending out the wrong signals". Mr Noel Ahern TD and Mr Sean Fleming TD both suggested Mr O'Flaherty should not take the £40,000 pension approved in special legislation last year.
Wicklow ail TD Mr Dick Roche said he was surprised and was among a number who reserved their position, saying they would have views to express at tomorrow's parliamentary party meeting.
The PDs face further embarrassment tomorrow night as its four TDs - Ms Harney, Mr Desmond O'Malley, Ms Liz O'Donnell and Mr Bobby Molloy - will have to walk through the Dail division lobbies in support of the nomination.
Labour and the Green Party will support a Fine Gael Private Member's Motion condemning the nomination on the grounds that Mr O'Flaherty refused to go before a Dail committee a year ago to explain his role in the Sheedy affair.
Independent TD Mr Jackie Healy-Rae has said he will support the Government and while none of the other three Independents could be contacted yesterday, there was no indication that any would oppose the Coalition.
