The Tánaiste, Ms Harney, has suggested that gardaí should investigate the case of a former Fianna Fáil junior minister who sent bogus letters purporting to be from the Taoiseach, Mr Ahern, during the local election campaign. Arthur Beesley, Political Reporter, reports.
Responding in the Dáil to questions about the case of Mr Lorcan Allen, the former Wexford TD, she said the forgery of a signature was a serious offence "and it is perhaps inevitably a matter for the Garda Síochána".
However, a spokeswoman for Ms Harney said last night that she herself would not be making a complaint about the case. "It is for those who have detailed information to involve the gardaí," the spokeswoman said.
Mr Allen said last night that there was "no forgery" in the case but he declined to make any further comment.
The letter distributed by Mr Allen appeared to come from Mr Ahern and warmly endorsed Mr Allen as a candidate for Wexford County Council.
Pressure on Mr Allen intensified yesterday when it emerged that the Fianna Fáil National Executive will discuss a report into the affair at a meeting tomorrow week.
"It is a serious matter and the report will be put to the officer board of the national executive for discussion," said the party's official spokeswoman. Mr Allen is a member of the national executive and other members are said to be coming under pressure from TDs, senators and rank-and-file activists to expel him from the body. One senior party figure said: "There is a growing view as to whether someone who has made such an admission could remain on the national executive.
"The executive adjudicates on issues of importance to the organisation, including discipline, so is his presence on the executive tenable in the light of what he has done."
While the ultimate punishment of expelling Mr Allen from the party is considered by some informed figures to be unlikely, the executive could suspend him from the party or ask him to stand down or ask him to stand down from the executive.
Paul Cullen adds: Fianna Fáil TD and new MEP Mr Eoin Ryan has said he knows nothing about the use of his Oireachtas envelopes to send election material in support of a local election candidate in his constituency
"That shouldn't have happened," Mr Ryan said last night when told that up to 400 pre-paid Oireachtas envelopes were used to send a letter in which Mr Ryan endorsed a candidate in Dublin's South-East Inner City ward, Mr Garry Keegan.
He had given instructions previously that such envelopes were only to be used for constituency matters.