Relations with Ahern strained, says Harney

An air of uncertainty still hangs over the future of the Government following the Tanaiste's admission that the events of the past few days have strained her relationship with the Taoiseach.

"I believe that for as long as the truth is told and there is honest government, the Progressive Democrats can stay in government," she said yesterday. Ms Harney will leave Dublin tomorrow for a 10-day trip to Japan, New Zealand and Australia.

In a series of media interviews, she said that when she saw Mr Tom Gilmartin's allegations in the Sunday Independent last weekend "it rang alarm bells because I remember meeting Mr Gilmartin in the late 1980s. I was introduced to him at a party in south Dublin, a house of a private citizen, and at that time he was very critical of the way that business was done," she added.

Conceding that the Taoiseach made "a full statement" to the Dail on Wednesday, Ms Harney said that if she didn't believe the Taoiseach she wouldn't stay in government.

Asked about her relationship with Mr Ahern, Ms Harney said: "Well, we had a good working relationship. We still have a good working relationship. But, I have to be honest. These events in the past few days have strained the relationship."

Asked specifically if she trusted him, Ms Harney said: "I do yes. I do trust him."

The Tanaiste repeatedly stated on RTE that she didn't know what was coming down the tracks "that won't cause further damage".

She also stated, for the first time, that if the issue of the Rennicks cheque, for example, which was fundamental to the Burke issue, had come to light earlier there would have been a very different situation.

Speaking of the official inquiries being conducted by inspectors in her own Department, the Tanaiste said there was nothing she was aware of in any of the inquiries she was conducting that "affect any member of the present Government".

Asked to comment on the position of the EU Commissioner, Mr Padraig Flynn, Ms Harney said she had never called on him to resign but his position was impossible.

Responding to the Tanaiste's comments, the Taoiseach, Mr Ahern, said Ms Harney had stated that she accepted what he had said in the Dail, that she was impressed with it. "She said that she trusted me and believes what I said and I am heartened by that. I also trust her."

He did not see the present situation as a major crisis, he said.