Ahern orders ministers to hold weekly ‘clinics’ for FF backbenchers

MINISTERS were ordered by the Taoiseach last night to hold “clinics” for Fianna Fáil backbenchers every Tuesday night.

As the fallout from his Cabinet reshuffle continues unabated, sacked minister Dr Jim McDaid was involved in a brief but tense face-off with Bertie Ahern at the Fianna Fáil parliamentary party meeting.

The former Cabinet and junior minister challenged the Taoiseach at the end of the meeting over whether Fianna Fáil would go into government with Sinn Féin after the next election.