The Tánaiste refused to be drawn on allegations by the Sinn Féin leader in the Dáil that money donated to Fianna Fáil for electoral purposes is missing.
Mr Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (SF, Cavan-Monaghan) said he had already asked the Taoiseach “if Fianna Fáil had initiated a full investigation into the misappropriation of an estimated EUR500,000 in donations to that party, ostensibly made but which, importantly, did not find its way into party coffers”.
He added that the Fianna Fáil committee on ethics was precluded by the party from pursuing those matters until the tribunals had concluded and reported on their work.
“What is the Tánaiste’s view of this strange decision by her partners in Government?
“Does she agree a political party should not investigate the misappropriation of its own funds pending the outcome of a tribunal’s report?”
Ms Harney, who was taking the Order of Business in the absence of the Taoiseach, Mr Ahern, said she was in the House to respond on behalf of the Government, not to comment on the funding arrangements of any party.”
Mr Ó Caoláin insisted that she was present as a spokesperson for the Government. Ms Harney replied: “Exactly. I am here to speak for the Government.
“I am here to deal with Government business, not the private funds of any party, including other parties in Government.
“At a time when my party was accused of demanding heads, between 1989 and 1992, virtually everyone in the country was critical of the role of the Progressive Democrats for being harsh and uncaring and constantly looking for resignations.
It seems to me we can never get it right.” Mr Ó Caoláin said the Tánaiste’s relationship with the Taoiseach in the past seven years had taught her one lesson: namely, how not to answer a question on the floor of the House when it was put directly to her. “She has refused not only to answer the questions of members of the House but those who many throughout the country would like to put.”
He asked with whom the Tánaiste had discussed the matter within her own party. "Did she discuss them with Deputy McDowell in his capacity as Attorney General during his term in office? Has she discussed these matters with him since in his role as president of the PDs? "Is it not the case that, contrary to the high moral ground which the Tánaiste and the PDs like to claim, it amounts to nothing against the party's eagerness and anxiety to be in power for power's sake, which is the real driving force behind the party
and the Tánaiste herself?"
Ms Harney said she would not take any lectures about morals or integrity from Mr Ó Caoláin or his party.
The Minister for Communications, Mr Ahern, remarked: “How did Sinn Féin spend 10 times more than the SDLP on the Assembly election?”