Taoiseach Bertie Ahern fuelled the continuing controversy over his junior ministerial reshuffle yesterday following a meeting with disappointed Dublin TD Seán Haughey and suggestions that Síle de Valera was resisting pressure to resign her post later this year to create a new vacancy.
After his meeting with Mr Haughey, the Taoiseach maintained there were no differences between him and the north Dublin TD, despite suggestions from Mr Haughey earlier in the week that he would consider quitting politics.
"I met today with Deputy Seán Haughey. The meeting was amicable and helpful. We discussed the issues of the week and there are no differences between myself and Seán following these discussions," said the Taoiseach in a statement. He added that Mr Haughey would continue with his work in the Dublin North Central constituency.
The meeting came two days after Mr Haughey said he would be considering his political future after being passed over for promotion, when Mr Ahern instead appointed the Co Meath TD Mary Wallace as a Junior Minister. There is continuing annoyance among Fianna Fáil backbenchers and the party organisation in the north Dublin constituencies that Ms Wallace was promoted to the vacancy created by the resignation of Ivor Callely.
The Haughey meeting happened hours after Mr Ahern gave a clear indication that he expected Ms de Valera to give up her junior ministerial post before the next election. Mr Ahern said there was a long-standing tradition that office holders who are not running in the next election bow out to give somebody else a chance. There were indications last night, however, that Ms de Valera was unhappy at the pressure being applied on her to resign her post.
Ms de Valera refused to respond last night to the Taoiseach's view. "I have no further comment to make at all," she said, as she arrived at the West County Hotel in Ennis for the opening of the Ógra Fianna Fáil conference.
Ms de Valera is expected to be present today with other Ministers and TDs when Mr Ahern addresses the conference.
The controversy surrounding Ms de Valera's junior ministry was a major talking point at the conference which was opened by Minister for Finance Brian Cowen. He said Ms de Valera's ministerial future was a matter for the Taoiseach. "I think he was setting out a general principle. Obviously, the issue does not arise at the moment."
Her first cousin, Éamon Ó Cuív, who is a member of the Cabinet, sprang to her defence.
"I know my cousin Síle de Valera has been a fine representative here in Clare," he said.
"She will continue to work until the next election as an outstanding representative here, and I've no comment other than that to make on this issue."
In an interview on Clare FM radio, Mr Ahern said there was a long-standing tradition that office-holders who were not running in the next election should resign their ministerial positions to allow a colleague the advantage of having the post.
Mr Ahern intimated that he would expect Ms de Valera to have stepped aside in the months directly preceding the election, which is likely to take place in summer 2007. "There is a long way to the election yet, so the issue of somebody pulling out this far out is a different issue."