Taoiseach rejects criticism of support for Cooper-Flynn

The Taoiseach, Bertie Ahern, has rejected Fine Gael’s criticism of his support for Beverly Cooper-Flynn’s election campaign.

Yesterday, Mr Ahern was cavassing in Co Mayo on behalf of Ms Cooper-Flynn, whom he expelled from the Fianna Fail parliamentary party last year after a High Court jury found that she had encouraged people to evade tax.

Fine Gael’s Alan Dukes accused Mr Ahern of campaigning with politicians tainted by sleaze, but the Taoiseach rejected this criticism out of hand. Speaking in Galway city, he said Fianna Fail is committed to transparency in politics and intends to toughen anti-corruption laws.