FF: No rush to get rid of Ahern

BERTIE AHERN’S position as leader of Fianna Fáil still remains relatively secure, though there is growing momentum behind his likely successor Brian Cowen, a new survey of backbench Fianna Fáil TDs has found.

The survey was carried out by RTÉ’s Prime Time for last night’s programme and questioned 42 of the party’s 65 backbenchers and junior ministers.

It found two-thirds of those — or almost 30 — believed Bertie Ahern should lead the party into the next local and European elections in 2009.