The Taoiseach, Mr Ahern, has warned deputies he will not tolerate racist remarks in the run up to the general election. Speaking about the Cork TD, Mr Noel O'Flynn, he told TDs and senators at the weekly Fianna Fáil parliamentary party meeting yesterday: "It's either him or me".
Mr Ahern said "it was time for Noel O'Flynn to shut up", according to a number of TDs in attendance. The Cork North Central TD ignored Mr Ahern's request that he attend the meeting even though Mr Ahern said he had specifically asked him to do so.
"Bertie was very strong and direct on this, not hedging his bets like he normally does. He said Noel O'Flynn was defying the party leader and that it was time for him to shut up. He said you can't be going around grand standing on the race issue, get a rebuke from the party leader and keep going. He said he would be off the field if he continued," said one TD.
Mr Ahern had a meeting with Mr O'Flynn last week to discuss the matter and gave him a written copy of the Government's anti-racism policy.
Before the meeting the Cork deputy appeared on the local Cork station 96FM to again vent his feelings on asylum-seekers.
Another TD said the Taoiseach told the meeting he was disgusted with Mr O'Flynn's racist remarks. "He told us 'if O'Flynn doesn't shut up it's either him or me'. Bertie knows that fellas are getting edgy in the run up to the election and he was trying to make sure others don't go and do the same."
Party chairman Dr Rory O'Hanlon said Mr Ahern received a round of applause when he concluded his speech. "What the Taoiseach had to say was unanimously accepted and there was a round of applause. He was trying to make sure the message got across clearly to people."
Mr O'Flynn said on 96FM yesterday morning he had spoken out "against some people who were abusing this system, who are intimidating people on the streets of Cork, who are involved in credit card scams."
He spoke about "illegality, criminality, anti-social behaviour and intimidation by a small number of people who are illegal immigrants in this country and who should be respecting the laws of this country while they are waiting for their applications to be dealt with."
Amnesty International has called on the Garda Commissioner to prosecute Mr O'Flynn under the Incitement to Hatred Act 1989. Amnesty described his remarks as inflammatory and racist.