There was no written agreement between the Government and Mr Thomas Gildea (Ind, Donegal South West), the Taoiseach insisted in the Dail.

He told the Labour Party leader, Mr Ruairi Quinn, he did not do "privileged deals with any individuals".

However, Mr Quinn accused the Government of engaging in "stroke politics" and said: "We are talking about the survival of the Government, which has been purchased on the basis of some undertaking with the so-called Independent deputy for South Donegal".

"We saw what that survival meant last week in a Private Members' motion," he said in reference to the very close vote on mental disability in which Mr Gildea supported the Government following his statement that he had reached an understanding with it.

Mr Quinn called on Mr Ahern to release the notes taken by Mr Ahern's side at the meeting. "I will not do so as I'm not sure what is in the note. There is no written agreement," the Taoiseach said.