McDowell: Ahern must provide answers

THE survival of the Government depends on the Taoiseach’s ability to provide satisfactory answers to questions surrounding the payment of money to him by a group of businessmen in Manchester, Tánaiste Michael McDowell has warned.

Mr McDowell said that as partners in Government, the Progressive Democrats were entitled to clarification and while he hoped a proper explanation would be forthcoming, he said the Taoiseach’s response must be acceptable to both the PDs and the public.

He would not put a firm deadline on Mr Ahern, but he noted that Dáil time had been set aside for the matter next week and he indicated answers needed to be provided without undue delay.