Dail adjourned twice because of heated exchanges

The Dail was adjourned twice, amid heated exchanges, as Opposition parties demanded that the Taoiseach explain his radio remarks about Mr Hugh O'Flaherty.

As Mr Ahern said he fully stood over the decision to appoint Mr O'Flaherty to the European Investment Bank, Opposition deputies insisted that he answer detailed questions on his remarks on Today FM that the former Supreme Court judge might explain his role in the Philip Sheedy affair.

When the matter was first raised on the Order of Business, which, as usual, was taken by the Taoiseach, there were no PD deputies on the Government benches.

However, when the Opposition challenged a vote on the order, three PD deputies, the Tanaiste, Ms Harney, the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ms Liz O'Donnell, and Mr Des O'Malley (Limerick East), entered the Chamber together to vote for the Government but left immediately, having had no contact with Mr Ahern.

The Government won the division by 71 votes to 46.

The Fine Gael leader, Mr John Bruton, said Mr Ahern should explain what he was attempting to do in the radio interview.

"Was he attempting to get Mr O'Flaherty to withdraw as the Government's nominee, in the same manner in which the former Taoiseach, Mr Haughey, succeeded in getting Dr Smurfit to withdraw as chairman of Telecom following a radio interview?

"Has the Taoiseach put the questions to which he seeks answers directly to Mr O'Flaherty, and, if not, why not? If the Taoiseach was not seeking Mr O'Flaherty's withdrawal, but rather to have a series of questions answered, will he establish a committee of the House whereby answers could also be provided by Mr Joe Burke, Mr Quinlan, former judge Mr Kelly, Mr Mathews, the Taoiseach himself and all the other people involved in this affair in order that we can ascertain the truth?"

The Labour deputy leader, Mr Brendan Howlin, asked if there was a Government in place. "No Progressive Democrat members are present in the House."

He added that the Taoiseach should act on his remarks on Tuesday and ensure a full and adequate explanation of the Sheedy affair and of Mr O'Flaherty's role in it was given before he proceeded with the nomination. Mr Ahern said: "I assure Deputy Bruton that I had no such motives yesterday. Deputy Howlin has asked that I make my position clear. The Government is collectively responsible for the nomination of Mr Hugh O'Flaherty to the European Investment Bank.

"As leader of the Government I fully stand over that decision. With all my colleagues, we made the decision. The Government had no reason to believe anything untoward needed to be added by way of explanation with regard to the controversy surrounding the Sheedy affair.

"So that there will be no doubt about the subject of Deputy Howlin's question, I wish Mr O'Flaherty well. I have no doubt he will do an excellent job in the bank and I hope he serves a long and full period."

Amid further noisy exchanges, Mr Howlin asked if the Taoiseach would require an explanation from Mr O'Flaherty in advance of the decision to appoint him to the EIB "or will he resile yet again from the position he enunciated on radio last night?"

Mr Ahern replied: "I made it absolutely clear in last night's interview that there is no question of that. Mr O'Flaherty has been nominated to the post. I hope he gets on with the job. I wish him well in it and I hope he serves a full and healthy term of office. That is the end of the story."

Mr Bruton said that the Sheedy case was a human scandal, a human tragedy. If there were questions to be asked, and if the Taoiseach knew what they were, he should ask them.

After further exchanges, the Ceann Comhairle, Mr Seamus Pattison, called the end of the Order of Business and the next item. As Opposition deputies continued to insist on referring to the Taoiseach's radio remarks, Mr Pattison adjourned the House for 15 minutes.

When the House resumed, Mr Howlin said he had not been afforded an opportunity to raise issues on the Order of Business. When Mr Pattison said the Order of Business was completed, Mr Howlin said that was unacceptable. After some further exchanges, Mr Pattison adjourned the House for 40 minutes.