Ahern rules as forum plan for backbenchers is agreed

TAOISEACH Bertie Ahern demonstrated his total dominance of Fianna Fáil last night by easily winning agreement for an alternative forum to the powerful backbench committee suggested by backbenchers last week.

At a marathon meeting of the FF parliamentary party lasting over three hours last night, the Taoiseach’s compromise suggestion of four meetings during July between backbenchers and ministers on key policy areas was unanimously endorsed by the party’s TDs and senators.

The issues and policies suggested at the meetings will feed into the party’s annual strategy meeting in Westport in September. The party leadership also gave assurances that that meeting would be a forum for its TDs and senators and would feature no guest speakers.