Opposition pours scorn on Ahern’s claims of European support

THE Taoiseach’s claim that he had the backing of 21 EU leaders for the job of commission president was undermined by opposition leaders yesterday.

Bertie Ahern told RTÉ on Sunday: “I was tempted when I had 21 of my colleagues who declared for me and there was only three left. Of the three that were left, if I had went to them, or if I had allowed one or two other senior prime ministers that wanted to go to them, I would very easily have got consensus.”

However, speaking in the Dáil during Taoiseach’s questions yesterday, Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny said he had attended meetings of the European People’s Party (EPP) grouping where none of the many leaders present had voiced support for Mr Ahern.