Flynn and Dempsey take fight to Ahern

BEVERLY FLYNN last night accused Taoiseach Bertie Ahern of disrespecting Fianna Fáil by ordering the party to kick her out.

Mr Ahern's get-tough strategy within FF was challenged on two fronts as Noel Dempsey scrambled to get out of a row with Mr Ahern yesterday after he appeared to directly contradict Mr Ahern's view that he had broken ethics rules.

Saying she felt let down by the manner in which her case is being handled, Ms Flynn vowed to fight the proposed expulsion next week and will appeal to her colleagues to take her part.

Accusing Mr Ahern of presenting the FF parliamentary party and árd chomhairle with a fait accompli, Ms Flynn suggested he was preempting the expulsion procedure.

"How can due process be followed when the decision is already taken," she said.

Mr Dempsey was forced to backtrack upon his claim that it was not up to Mr Ahern to decide whether he breached guidelines on the use of official facilities.

Nonetheless, Mr Dempsey's comments were pounced upon by opposition parties with Fine Gael saying he had thrown down the gauntlet to Mr Ahern and Labour describing his statement as a petulant two-fingered gesture.

Unlike his colleague, Junior Minister Frank Fahey, who was also rebuked by Mr Ahern, Mr Dempsey has not apologised or accepted any wrongdoing on his part.

After his initial comments prompted concern within Government circles, Mr Dempsey clarified by saying Mr Ahern was entitled to express his views.

But Mr Dempsey said he was not going to comment until the State's ethics watchdog has completed its investigation into his use of departmental resources for FF election candidates.

The Standards in Public Offices Commission began its inquiry last week, but Mr Ahern has already accepted Mr Dempsey overstepped the mark.

Attributing the apparent challenge to a misunderstanding, Mr Dempsey said he was not in the same position as Mr Ahern, as his actions were being investigated.

"The Taoiseach is perfectly entitled to ... and I did not take issue with what he said in the Dáil. I made a statement maybe a little ineloquently that it was a matter for the Public Offices Commission to make the decision," he said.

Mr Dempsey remains adamant the information he gave out was freely available and he would not have knowingly breached the Ethics in Public Office Act or ministerial guidelines.

Last night, the Taoiseach's spokesperson said Mr Ahern was happy Mr Dempsey had clarified his comments.

"We are satisfied the Public Offices Commission is investigating the matter," the spokesperson added.

Also yesterday, Mr Ahern stood by his decision to seek Ms Flynn's expulsion from Fianna Fáil following the rejection of her libel case appeal by the Supreme Court.