Taoiseach says he did not break rule

Taoiseach Bertie Ahern strongly rejected a claim that he had broken the in camera rule when replying to questions on the O'Hara family whose children were temporarily taken into care.

The claim was made by Labour leader Pat Rabbitte, who said it was the first time in the history of the House, to his knowledge, that the Taoiseach resorted to quoting from "a partisan in camera document".

He added that the allegation in the document was found to be untrue in court, but the Taoiseach had repeated it in the House to the acute distress of the family concerned.

"Will the Taoiseach now take the opportunity to correct the record of the House? It is the least he owes to the family concerned."

Mr Rabbitte added that it was not enough to "send the family a sneaky e-mail blaming me for the issue".

Mr Ahern replied: "When I answer in the House, I am not in camera but on camera and my obligation is to give an answer to the House.

"Replying to a distressed family, the O'Hara family, by e-mail is not sneaky. I did not raise the issue."

The point he had made, Mr Ahern added, was based on the information he had - and for which he made no apology - which was that when the staff member acted, they had done so on the basis of certain circumstances which he had explained to the House. The Taoiseach said that Tánaiste Mary Harney had a detailed meeting with the family.

Mr Ahern added that in the e-mail the family sent to him, to which he replied, they had indicated a desire not to have the issue raised in public.

Mr Rabbitte said this was completely untrue. "I have the e-mail here." Pressed by Mr Rabbitte to retract his remarks, Mr Ahern replied: "I retract nothing."

Mr Ahern said his obligation to the House was to answer a question when it was put to him. "I will not withdraw that." Mr Rabbitte said the situation was "absolutely shameful".