O’Dea rejects charge of rebuking McAleese

DEFENCE Minister Willie O’Dea last night insisted he had not rebuked President McAleese over remarks regarding the possibility of sending Irish peacekeeping troops to Lebanon.

Mr O’Dea hit out at claims by Labour that he had dragged the President into a political spat.

Mr O’Dea insisted he had simply pointed out the President’s function in the decision-making process and had not “directly, indirectly or by implication” rebuked her.