FG backs TD’s ‘gutter’ remark about Ahern

FINE GAEL has defended remarks by one of its frontbenchers who claimed “the gutter” was Taoiseach Bertie Ahern’s natural habitat.

A party spokesman said Mr Ahern had been the first person to use that sort of language and that newly elected TD Leo Varadkar was simply “responding in kind”.

Asked if FG leader Enda Kenny would stand over Mr Varadkar’s remarks, the spokesman said: “Well, I think we’ve a Taoiseach that we don’t believe is telling the truth at a tribunal of inquiry [and who] has taken the equivalent of €300,000 into his bank account over a period when he was minister for finance.