The Opposition motion of censure against the Independent TD, Mr Tom Gildea, was rejected by the Government during heated exchanges in the Dβil last night.

Responding to a succession of Opposition speakers, the Government Chief Whip, Mr SΘamus Brennan, accepted that Mr Gildea should not have made allegations of corruption, and putting undue pressure on garda∅, against the Fine Gael TD, Ms Nora Owen, in the Dβil last week.

He said the Government dissociated itself from the remarks and did not approve of them.

"But I also say that if Deputy Gildea feels that he has done enough, issued the apology, and that extra humiliation and rubbing his nose in it is a parliamentary game, I am happy to accept that is his position."

The motion, in the name of Fine Gael, Labour and the Green Party, was moved in private members' time. It censured Mr Gildea, "noting that his behaviour was totally unbecoming for a member of this House." The Government amendment noted that Mr Gildea had withdrawn the allegations and apologised to the House, Ms Owen, her family and party.

Ms Owen accepted that Mr Gildea had withdrawn his remarks "in a qualified way" and he had apologised for the hurt but "the sad, awful fact" was that the media could repeat everything he said.

"For the last six days I have had to defend my good name," she said. Mr Gildea might not have had a pleasant six days "but I cannot imagine the hurt he felt was any close to the hurt I feel". Everything he said was untrue and unfounded and he did not have even the tiniest bit of evidence. But the words of comfort from Ministers had been ruined by calling the Opposition's comments "mock indignation" or early electioneering.

The Fine Gael leader, Mr Michael Noonan, read parts of a letter from the former chief executive of Cable Management Ireland, Mr Raymond Doyle, about the "grave wrong and injustice" done to him by Mr Gildea's allegations.

The comments were "shameless and reckless" especially because he was denied the privilege of the Dβil enjoyed by Mr Gildea. Mr Doyle gave "absolute assurances" that neither he nor the company, nor anybody representing it, offered or paid inducement to Ms Owen at any stage.

Mr Noonan said the Government was complicit in Deputy Gildea's "slur on the holder of one of the most sensitive ministries in our system". They failed to persuade him to make the appropriate personal statement, when for 41/2 years they had been able to get the deputy "to do their will".

Mr Pat Rabbitte (Lab, Dublin South West) said Mr Gildea had engaged in a "Faustian pact" with the Government "to renege on his own constituents" in Donegal. He had given a commitment to the Diver and McBrearty families as to how he would act and vote. He distracted attention from it by making a calculated assault and attempt at character assassination on Ms Owen.

It was a "gross abuse" by common consent of both sides of the House. The abuse was incidental to the debate but was "considered, calculated and deliberate".

Mr Harry Blaney (Independent, Donegal North East) said at times a TD could get frustrated at what took place in their own area.

"I think that when Deputy Gildea made the statement relating to Deputy Owen, was maybe such a time. The fact that Deputy Gildea withdrew his offensive statement, when requested to do so by the Ceann Comhairle, and subsequently apologised to Deputy Owen, her family and her party, did in my opinion fulfil the courtesy and proper ethics of this House," Mr Blaney said.

The Minister for Justice, Mr O'Donoghue, said that prior to the start of the previous week's debate, Ms Owen had an unblemished reputation for honesty.

"At the conclusion of that debate, Deputy Owen's reputation for honesty was not diminished, nor was it in doubt. It is not in doubt today, nor is it the subject matter of this debate," Mr O'Donoghue said. The issue was what action they should take against a deputy making a false allegation, who withdraws it and subsequently apologised for it. In the past, an apology had been tendered by a Fine Gael TD, relating to allegations he had made, and it was accepted.

The debate was concluded.