Ahern accepts Fianna Fáil to lose out in elections

TAOISEACH Bertie Ahern conceded for the first time yesterday that Fianna Fáil would lose seats in the local elections. But he insisted the party would not take a battering as predicted by the latest opinion poll.

In a second blow, Foreign Affairs Minister Brian Cowen also ordered a review of the use of the diplomatic bag to canvass votes for political parties.

This followed the revelation that Mr Ahern had attached a letter to the diplomatic bag sent to 300 Irish diplomatic and consular staff abroad urging them to support Fianna Fáil candidates and to vote Yes in the citizenship referendum.