The Tánaiste and leader of the Progressive Democrats Michael McDowell tonight backed the Taoiseach by saying that he had accounted to the Dáil in relation to the matter of the Stg£8,000 he received in Manchester and that he is "fit to continue in office".
In a statement released tonight Mr McDowell said his party share the Taoiseach's view that his [Mr Ahern's] actions "were an error of judgment".
Mr McDowell said: "Our [Progressive Democrats] view on today's events is that Bertie Ahern is fit to continue as Taoiseach.
"If the Taoiseach is fit to continue in office, it would be unreasonable for the Progressive Democrats to surrender our mandate and to bring about a one-party Government until the next election by resigning office as some form of political gesture.
"Such a gesture would fly in the face of reason and common sense and of the common good, and would do nothing practical for the vindication of standards in Irish political life.
"We look forward to putting these events behind us and to completing our term of office," the statement concluded.