Minister for Foreign Affairs Dermot Ahern said yesterday he was somewhat surprised that the Manchester payment had become an issue for Tánaiste Michael McDowell when it did not seem to be a concern previously in the Dáil.
Speaking to journalists at Farmleigh, Mr Ahern said he did not think there was any question of the PDs leaving Government but it was a matter for that party.
Asked if he thought Mr McDowell's concerns about the Manchester payments were understandable, he said: "Well, I'm somewhat surprised that it was an issue yesterday whereas 24 hours previously when it was in the Dáil it didn't seem to be an issue and I can't answer that."
He said Mr McDowell had issued a statement just 36 hours previously saying that as far as he was concerned the Government was going to remain. That was a time when the issue of the £8,000 was out in the public domain because the Taoiseach had put it out there.
Pledging his support for the Taoiseach, the Minister said as far as he was concerned, "the Government is very solid. I have no indication from the PDs otherwise". He added: "Michael McDowell has indicated he has some concerns in relation to it and, you know, the Taoiseach as he said yesterday, is quite willing to answer questions and the chief whip is willing to give a statement and answer questions next Tuesday."
He said he could not see what else the Taoiseach could do. It had to be remembered that this would not be in the public domain only for the fact that the Taoiseach gave this information to the tribunal and somehow it got out from the tribunal
Asked if he shared the same concerns with Mr McDowell, he said: "No, I don't, absolutely not, because I think to a certain extent history is repeating itself in that down through the years any political historian will show that, or will tell a story that Fianna Fáil taoisigh always have been - that attempts have been made to destabilise them and I don't think this is any different.
"It's an effort to politically destabilise the Taoiseach, an honest and honourable man that most people understand he is," the Minister said.
He added that he did not know the source of the leaks. "In order to sustain the validity of the tribunal, I do think it has an onus to try and find out how this information has been used selectively and I think maliciously against the Taoiseach."
Asked about any comparison with Charles Haughey, he said he did not think that the two could be compared.
"The Taoiseach, Bertie Ahern, everyone knows has not a lavish lifestyle. He has never tried to self-enhance himself. He has an honest, simple enough lifestyle and you know the issue of the loans as we all know was at a time when he was in financial difficulty and that's something he has already explained."