Bertie courts backbenchers to back Nice Treaty

TAOISEACH Bertie Ahern will today try to allay Fianna Fail backbenchers’ fears about economic cutbacks and also seek their active support in the upcoming Nice referendum campaign.

As the party prepared for a two-day meeting of TDs and senators in Killarney, several prominent backbenchers said they were fearful of the consequences of the drip-drip revelations about Government cuts.

Laois-Offaly TD Sean Fleming last night said he would be asking all ministers to spell out the context in which spending adjustments were being put in place: “The backbench TDs have been left with no information to explain how and why these decisions are being taken. We need this information to be better able to communicate with voters and perhaps offer any positive elements which may arise.”