Fianna Fáil Ministers have been rallying together to defend their leader Bertie Ahern.

The Taoiseach, Bertie Ahern, has insisted that there was nothing wrong about Norman Turner securing an Irish passport in 1994.

Minister for European Affairs Dick Roche has mounted an attack on the Opposition this morning for raising fresh questions about the Taoiseach's credibility.

The Taoiseach is battling a new controversy after it emerged last night that a passport for Manchester businessman Norman Turner was channelled through his (Mr Ahern's) office while he was Minister for Finance in 1994..