The Minister for Education, Mr Dempsey, has insisted he will table plans at Cabinet to reintroduce third-level fees, despite clear signs that a majority of ministers are now against the proposal, write Mark Hennessy and Denis Staunton.
The Minister's determination to go ahead raises the prospect of a serious disagreement at the Cabinet when the plan is tabled in "two or three weeks' time".
The Tánaiste and Progressive Democrats leader, Ms Harney, openly criticised Mr Dempsey yesterday for failing to debate the proposals privately with colleagues.
Insisting measures must be taken to increase the number of poorer students at third-level, Mr Dempsey rejected charges that he will be "ambushed" by the Progressive Democrats.
"If I see something wrong, or something that I believe should be corrected, even if it mightn't be a great thing to do politically or otherwise, I will address it," said the Minister, in an interview with the Westmeath Examiner.
"I'll bring it to my Cabinet colleagues. I'll look for their support. I did it in my previous existence. I'll do it in this as long as I am left in office. It is up to the Government then to make a collective decision.
"If we deal with politics on the basis of looking over our shoulder as to who might or might not support it, rather than what is right or wrong, then it is not my kind of politics," he said.
The strong language used by the Minister raises a serious question mark over his ability to remain on in Cabinet if his proposal is rejected, or amended beyond recognition.
Defending his plans, he said: "I'm absolutely convinced that this is a right approach, it is a necessary approach and I hope other people see it the same way I do."
Emphasising that no final proposals are ready, the Taoiseach, Mr Ahern, told the Dáil: "The vast majority of people on normal incomes will not be affected one way or the other, regardless of what the Minister brings forward."
Last night, senior Government figures argued that the Government must quickly assure students doing next month's Leaving Certificate that they will not face fees from October.
"I would be in favour of saying that people sitting their exams next month will not face fees," the Government Chief Whip, Ms Mary Hanafin, told The Irish Times last night, in comments shared by others.
The interview with Mr Dempsey was conducted on Monday night as the Progressive Democrats Minister for Justice, Mr McDowell, was describing the reintroduction of fees as "flawed".
Meanwhile, the Government has bought time by putting forward amendments to a Fine Gael/Labour motion to be debated in the Seanad tonight which calls for opposition to the return of fees.
Avoiding the Minister's declared preference for fees, the Government motion notes Programme for Government commitments to increase the numbers of students from disadvantaged backgrounds in third-level education.
Speaking in Brussels, the Tánaiste compared Mr Dempsey's plans to the ill-fated 1980s property tax: "Even though it affected relatively few people, a lot of people became scared as a result.
"It was a tax that collected very little money. We have to make sure that we don't do that again in this area," she said, following a meeting of EU enterprise ministers.
Mr Ahern insisted repeatedly yesterday during Dáil exchanges that the Minister's recommendations are not yet complete.
Criticising the Minister, the Tánaiste said: "It would have been better if we had the discussion internally before we start debating the matter in public.
"That's not good for the cohesion of the Government. It's not good for the issue itself and it probably leads to a lot of confusion among parents and among students and caused a lot of unnecessary fear and worry," she said.
The issue was not raised at last night's meeting of the Fianna Fáil Parliamentary Party, though many backbenchers are now openly exasperated by the row.
"The Minister was the one who pre-empted his own review by saying that he was in favour of fees coming back. If he was in favour, then why did he not go to the Cabinet and put the proposal," one Fianna Fáil TD said.