The Taoiseach was this afternoon officially invited to Scotland
after he pulled out of a visit this weekend following advice from a Labour MP.
Mr Ahern had been due to unveil a Celtic Cross memorial to victims of the Famine at the Carfin Grotto, near Glasgow, on Sunday afternoon after attending a Scottish Premier League match between Celtic and Rangers.
However, the trip was abandoned after fears were raised about sectarian violence by Mr Frank Roy, Labour MP for the area where the ceremony was due to take place.
Mr Roy said he had advised the Government the Taoiseach's visit was ill-timed. He said: "One of the worst nights in my constituency for policing is the night of any Old Firm game and quite frankly we do not need this as well.
"There was an Old Firm game last night and there could be some bad blood carried over to Sunday. I think it was totally unnecessary and totally inappropriate. I think Mr Ahern was badly advised and I told him I was very sorry that no one from the Irish embassy contacted me to ask my advice."
During the Scottish First Minister's question time in the Scottish Parliament this afternoon, Mr Henry McLeish, sought to mend diplomatic bridges with the Irish Government by inviting Mr Ahern to attend at a later date.
The First Minister said: "Any visit of the Taoiseach would have been warmly welcomed. We have very strong links with Ireland and we want retain them.
``I will be extending a formal invitation to the Taoiseach to join with me to discuss issues not only of importance to the two nations but also in relation to a possible sporting visit and indeed to continue the visit planned for this weekend.''
Mr Ahern's spokesman confirmed the visit had been postponed but said he still planned to visit Scotland at a later date.
Last night's Old Firm CIS Insurance Cup semi final tie at Hampden Park saw a total of 41 arrests before, during and after the match which Celtic won 3-1.
Meanwhile the Scottish Tories claimed the cancellation of the weekend visit would be viewed as a "victory for bigots" which had been brought about by Mr Roy "pressing the panic button".
Scottish Tory leader Mr David McLetchie said that as public order was a devolved matter, the Scottish Executive should have been consulted.
"I fear, however, that it has been decided over the heads of Henry McLeish and Jim Wallace (Scottish Deputy First Minister)," he said.
Additional reporting PA
