Sir - I wish to take issue with Fintan O' Toole's mischievous claim (The Irish Times, April 29th) that the current Taoiseach has failed to draw a clear line between those politicians who in the past behaved ethically and those who did not. In particular, Mr O' Toole's suggestion that it was the Taoiseach's "evasion of these issues that left that era in Irish politics open to dark suspicions, insidious rumours and unjust implications" does not stand up to scrutiny.
Despite what any inaccurate newspaper articles might seek to portray, Fianna Fail's attitude to the tribunals has never been characterised by evasion. Those with selective political memories would do well to remember that it was Fianna Fail which set the tribunals up, it is Fianna Fail which continues to give them unstinting co-operation and it will be Fianna Fail that will act swiftly on their recommendations.
Our position on all these matters has been consistent. While awaiting the completion of the tribunals' work, An Taoiseach has constantly made it clear that, as long as he remains leader of this party, Fianna Fail will fully support the strictures by Justice McCracken on the inherent dangers and undesirability of individual office-holders privately accepting large financial donations. It should also be recalled that, with none of the reluctance so often unfairly attributed, Fianna Fail - under Bertie Ahern's leadership - with our current partners, the Progressive Democrats, took the initiative in December 1996, in opposition, on seeking without delay what subsequently became the McCracken tribunal.
At the Fianna Fail Ard Fheis prior to the last general election, the Taoiseach said that "participation in the democratic life of this country is about public service, not self-service or the sustaining of a certain lifestyle." In office or out of office that position still holds. The false argument that the Taoiseach was in some way negligent of his duty and "didn't take [the] opportunity" or "did nothing at all" in response to specific allegations of corruption is unworthy of any reputable journalist. The facts of the matter are in stark contrast and I would remind Mr O'Toole that it was Fianna Fail that pushed strongly for the establishment of the Moriarty Tribunal to investigate all of the questions that remain unanswered regarding the finances of Mr Haughey and Mr Lowry. We also were instrumental in the establishment of the Flood Tribunal to investigate abuses in the planning process.
While the reality is that it may suit some people's agendas to deliberately forget that Fianna Fail was instrumental in the establishment of the tribunals, Fianna Fail as a party will not and cannot allow this to deflect from our overriding objective - that all of the rumours and allegations regarding politicians can be comprehensively dealt with so that we can begin to rebuild confidence in the political system and the democratic life of this country.
As the largest political party in the State, Fianna Fail is playing a leading role in this process. We view it as incumbent on our party - in accordance with our proud traditions of public service - to be at the forefront in underpinning the confidence of the public in politics and our public representatives. We are so far the first - and only - party to implement written guidelines and principles for office-holders and candidates with a view to supporting the highest ethical standards within Irish public life.
There is one further inaccuracy in Mr O'Toole's that it is necessary to clarify. Mr O'Toole states that in 1998 the national organiser of Fianna Fail, Sean Sherwin, told the party general secretary of his recollection of being told of the donation to Padraig Flynn by Tom Gilmartin. Mr O'Toole then claims that Bertie Ahern was told but "did nothing". This is a clear distortion of the facts. As the Taoiseach explained to the Dail in January 1999, "When these articles appeared in the Sunday newspapers in September stating that Commissioner Flynn had received £50,000 either for the party or for himself, Mr Sherwin came to the general secretary of the party and stated that he had a recollection of these matters. The general secretary contacted me. I immediately stated that anything Mr Sherwin had to say should not be said to me but to the Fianna Fail legal team and that everything he had to say should be documented and sent to the tribunal. That was done forthwith."
An Taoiseach continued by stating that a tribunal of inquiry "was set up to deal with these matters" and that was the appropriate place to deal with such allegations. "I did see it as my duty to make sure that party officials, party members or any members of the Fianna Fail organisation co-operated fully with the tribunal. I have done that."
In response to recent allegations emerging from the Tribunal, Deputy John Bruton said : "Fine Gael is not a court so it would be our policy that criminal allegations be investigated by the appropriate authorities and to fully co-operate with them." In the interests of fair play, Fintan O'Toole might do well to remember that Fianna Fail is not a court also - Yours, etc.,
Dr Rory O'Hanlon, Chairman, Fianna Fail Parliamentary Party, Dail Eireann, Dublin 2.