PDs break silence with ‘get real’ ethics jibe

THE PDs finally broke cover last night and launched a scathing attack on opposition leaders who branded them moral pygmies over the wave of sleaze allegations rocking Bertie Ahern’s premiership.

After six days of self-imposed silence by the party, Health Minister of State Tim O’Malley told Fine Gael and Labour to “get real” on political ethics and insisted the PDs had never claimed to Fianna Fáil’s “watchdog”.

The intervention was seen as the clearest signal yet the Coalition will survive the crisis provoked by questions over Mr Ahern’s financial conduct which had threatened to destroy it.

The fight back came after another “damage limitation” meeting between Mr Ahern and Tánaiste Michael McDowell which both sides described as positive.

The two were meeting again before today’s Cabinet session to discuss proposed new ethics legislation which Mr McDowell has demanded in order to shore-up credibility with voters.

The easing of Coalition tensions came as it emerged Mr Ahern’s former partner Celia Larkin has been asked by the Mahon Tribunal to hand over financial details from the period she was involved with the Taoiseach.

Mr O’Malley said the PDs would not be “goaded or lectured” by Fine Gael and Labour leaders — who he claimed were tainted by previous ethics lapses — into walking out of coalition with FF.

“The PDs are responsible for their own standards and, far from risking altitude sickness on the moral high ground, the PDs have worked since their foundation to follow basic and self-evident standards of political ethics.

“The Progressive Democrats have never described themselves as watchdogs over the standards of other political parties.

“We do believe, as does the Irish electorate, that Coalition Government serves the country better in terms of accountability and transparency.

“At the last election we sought a mandate to prevent a reversion to single-party Government and we intend to stand by that mandate,” the minister said.

Labour leader Pat Rabbitte expressed concern that the Government appeared divided at such a crucial time for the Northern peace process with all party talks beginning on power-sharing tomorrow.

“It’s very regrettable that you have a Government divided within itself and divided between key ministers, including the ministers who are involved in the process,” he said.

Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny warned the Coalition had decided to stay together out of “desperation”.

“The Government should go. They’ve lost the moral authority to lead,” he said.