Fianna Fáil TD Seán Haughey has described as "completely false" media reports that he will consider standing as an independent candidate at the next general election if he is not promoted to junior minister over the next 15 months, write Liam Reid and Michael O'Regan
In a terse statement yesterday Mr Haughey said: "Recent press reports have stated that I am considering exiting Fianna Fáil and standing as an independent candidate in the next general election. I wish to state that this is completely false."
The comments come amid continuing controversy surrounding Taoiseach Bertie Ahern's decision to promote Meath TD Mary Wallace to a junior ministry at the expense of Mr Haughey.
It was further fuelled by comments last Friday by Mr Ahern that he expected Clare TD Síle de Valera to resign as Minister of State for Education before the next general election, leaving open further promotional opportunities for backbench TDs.
However, Minister for the Environment Dick Roche moved to defend Mr Ahern's handling of the controversy, suggesting that any delays or uncertainty on the issue was down to Mr Ahern being an "extraordinarily gentle" person.
In his statement yesterday, Mr Haughey added that he had not asked anybody to brief the media to the effect that he would consider standing as an independent.
"I would like to make it clear that nobody has spoken to the media in this regard on my behalf over the past few days," he said.
He also said he was "fully satisfied" with the outcome of a meeting on Friday with Mr Ahern to discuss his decision not to promote Mr Haughey to a junior ministry last week.
The latest twist came as Ms de Valera remained steadfastly silent throughout the weekend on her future plans regarding her junior ministry. Ms de Valera was at an Ógra Fianna Fáil conference in Ennis during the weekend and declined to comment on numerous occasions when approached by journalists. She is retiring from the Dáil at the next general election.
Speaking to journalists during the conference, Mr Ahern said that Ms de Valera should continue to do her job as minister of state.
Asked about his comment that ministers not seeking re-election stood down from ministerial office, he said: "I made the point . . . it is a long way out. I also made the point that when other people did that, it was very near the time . . . So that's it. She should get on with her job, and that is what everybody else should do."
Mr Roche said: "Politics is not the easiest game in the world. The Taoiseach is an extraordinarily gentle person in the way he does his business. He has a very human side to him and that is what we are seeing playing out here."