THE Fianna Fail leader, Mr Bertie Ahern, has said he will abolish the office, but not the title, of Tanaiste, if he leads his party into government.
The move was supported last night by the Progressive Democrats' leader, Ms Mary Harney, who said she had called for the office's abolition last November. "Mr Spring does not need more than one office. The Tanaiste's office has no policy function, and is another example of empire building by the Labour Party.
However, shortly alter Mr Ahern's remarks yesterday, the Tanaiste, Mr Spring, expressed astonishment, saying Mr Ahern's intention augured badly for a future Fianna Fail/ Progressive Democrats partnership.
Mr Spring rejected the disbandment of the office on costs grounds, saying its achievements meant it had "well justified itself".
The Taoiseach, Mr Bruton said the office of Tanaiste played a major role in creating partnership in the present Government and he rejected calls for its abolition. Speaking in Killarney, Mr Bruton accused Mr Ahern of "demonstrating by that suggestion that he really doesn't want partners in government."
Describing the office of Tanaiste as being manned by "a coterie of political apparatchiks" under Labour, Mr Ahern said it amounted to "a gross abuse of money". Fianna Fail claims the office cost £5 million over four and a half years.
Meanwhile, asked at a press conference in Dublin if she would like to be the next Tanaiste, Fianna Fail's deputy leader, Ms Mary O'Rourke, replied, "I would prefer to get elected". She was not interested in the "title or the trappings", she said.
Although the title of Tanaiste is provided for in the Constitution, the office of Tanaiste was established only in 1992 when Mr Spring and the then Fianna Fail leader, Mr Albert Reynolds, formed a coalition government.
According to Ms O'Rourke, while she was then "outside the inside circle", the office was set up "for political purposes".
The absence of trappings would not in any way diminish the title, Ms O'Rourke added.