Ahern says his leadership is safe despite FF backbench criticism

TAOISEACH Bertie Ahern yesterday insisted his leadership of the Fianna Fáil was safe despite fresh allegations that he appointed Ray Burke amid warnings he was corrupt.

Party backbenchers are increasingly critical of Mr Ahern for his handling of the fallout from the Flood Tribunal while opinion polls show his popularity has slumped to a new low.

But at the launch yesterday of FF's campaign for a Yes vote in the Nice Treaty, Mr Ahern came out fighting and said he established the Flood Tribunal to investigate corruption allegations and had not heard any complaints about his leadership.

"I'm the custodian of the leadership Fianna Fáil, I'll do that as long as they want me to do it I haven't heard anyone in the parliamentary party complain to me about it," Mr Ahern said.

He led his strongest attack to date on Ray Burke and said he felt "betrayed" and "disgusted" at the findings of the Flood Tribunal's report

Mr Ahern also posed with the man seen as the main leadership contender, Foreign Affairs Minister Brian Cowen, at the Nice campaign launch.

Mr Ahern will face further political pressure if the treaty is not passed and opinion polls show he has an uphill battle to win over the electorate.

Some Fianna Fáil backbenchers have been publicly critical of the Government's record and said a number of regrettable decisions have been taken lately.

Fianna Fáil deputy Conor Lenihan said the Government was seen by many as being "rudderless" and in "rag order".

He also said the prospect of Dublin county councillors coming before the Flood Tribunal in the months ahead would be another unsteadying influence.

The Opposition, meanwhile, is seeking to keep political pressure on the coalition government by demanding a Dáil debate over Mr Ahern's handling of the Burke controversy.

Meanwhile, Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny yesterday said he would be demanding answers from the Taoiseach when the Dáil reconvenes in just over a week's from the following questions:

l What evidence did he have and what was his motivation in appointing Ray Burke to the third most important position in government?

l What evidence did the Taoiseach present to the Tánaiste, who accepted the appointment on the basis of assurances by him?

l Given that Ray Burke received corrupt payments while alongside Mr Ahern in the cabinet, what analysis of decision taken during that period does he intend to present to the Dáil?

It was claimed from a number of sources over the weekend that Bertie Ahern was warned by a number of senior Fianna Fáil party members not to appoint Ray Burke to the Cabinet in 1997.

According to Fianna Fáil sources, Dublin North TD Jim Glennon refused to run in the same constituency as Mr Burke in the 1997 election because of the former minister's controversial past.

Sources close to Albert Reynolds also said the former Taoiseach had banished Mr Burke to the back benches because of suspicions over planning activities.