Fianna Fáil says it has no plans to initiate disciplinary proceedings against Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown councillor Mr Tony Fox, who gave incorrect information to an internal party inquiry into political funding.
Mr Fox told the Fianna Fáil inquiry three years ago that the largest political contribution he ever received was £500.
However, he told the Flood tribunal on Thursday that he received a payment of £600 during the local elections in 1991, and £1,000 when he sought a nomination for the general election in 1992. Both contributions came from Monarch Properties.
Despite the conflicting information, the party said yesterday that it would not comment on Mr Fox's evidence. A spokeswoman said the party wanted to hear the tribunal's conclusions before deciding what to do.
She said: "The tribunal was set up to establish facts in all cases. Only when the tribunal comes forward with its absolute findings do we think it appropriate to comment or to take action if that is deemed necessary."
The stance contrasts with the attitude of Fine Gael towards similar revelations made about former party TD and senator Mr Liam Cosgrave.
Fine Gael indicated it would take disciplinary proceedings against Mr Cosgrave when it emerged at the tribunal he had received more than £7,000 in election payments and other payments from former lobbyist Mr Frank Dunlop.
This contrasted with the sum of £3,000 to £3,500 which he declared to the Fine Gael inquiry.
Fine Gael's national executive is expected to discuss the case at this month's meeting, and it is expected the case will be raised with the executive's disciplinary committee.
Certain sources within Fianna Fáil believe that the issues in relation Mr Fox are not clear cut. In addition, they said the three cases in which members lost the party whip were related to parliamentary party business.
Mr Liam Lawlor, then a TD, resigned the whip over his dealings with the Flood tribunal, which had not then issued its first report. Ms Beverly Cooper Flynn lost it after a libel action against RTÉ. Mr Denis Foley, then a TD, lost the whip after revelations at the Moriarty tribunal in 2000 about his financial affairs. The tribunal has yet to issue a report.
