Ahern hits back at party critics

TAOISEACH Bertie Ahern yesterday delivered a defiant message to his Fianna Fáil parliamentary party, telling TDs to keep their “heads up” because the economy was performing exceptionally well despite the global downturn.

In an address at the party's annual seminar aimed at getting cohesion in the run-up to the EU presidency and next year's local and European elections, he also unusually singled out backbencher TDs Ned O'Keeffe and John McGuinness by name, criticising them for recent comments that were critical of Government ministers.

Mr Ahern told his TDs in a private meeting that there were a number of people who felt the necessity to break ranks with the party.