Ahern rejects cronyism claims

Taoiseach Bertie Ahern tonight faced down Opposition claims of political cronyism over the Government appointment of one of his friends to a top job in Dublin.

The election campaign entered its final week with opinion polls suggesting Fianna Fail could form Ireland's first single party Government since 1977.

But Opposition parties sought to dent his lead by criticising the appointment of Joe Burke as the chairman of Dublin Port Authority.

Former Fine Gael leader Alan Dukes queried whether Mr Burke was qualified to take up the post which was announced a day after the Dail was dissolved for the election.

Labour leader Ruairi Quinn also accused Mr Ahern’s Government of making ‘‘a number of surprisingly partisan appointments’’ to state bodies.

‘‘No doubt the Taoiseach will respond by saying that all parties have engaged in similar practices in the past and that is true,’’ Mr Quinn continued.

‘‘But Labour’s manifesto contains commitments to a more open and transparent appointment process. It is an appropriate and balanced response to concerns about patronage that have arisen.

‘‘The Taoiseach should respond in a similar vein and he could start by making it known what appointments have been made and which are upcoming.’’

Mr Ahern came under further attack when it emerged that Minister for the Marine Frank Fahey did not consult Fianna Fail’s coalition partners, the Progressive Democrats, before the move.

However Mr Ahern, campaigning in west Dublin, brushed aside criticism - insisting Mr Burke got the job on merit.

‘‘First of all, I served on that board myself. I am very familiar with that board,’’ he replied.

‘‘Joe Burke has a number of attributes for that - far more than I would have had.

‘‘He has a huge interest in the port. He’s always had an interest in the port. His wife’s family has been very involved in the port, is from the port and lived in the port.

‘‘He has always been a great protector of people in the port.’’

Mr Ahern also clashed with Fine Gael leader Michael Noonan who today wrote to the Department of Finance asking for details about the Government’s finances amid allegations that public services could be cut back after the election.

The Taoiseach and his Finance Minister, Charlie McCreevy, insisted that a full account of the public finances had been supplied.

Meanwhile Sinn Fein president Gerry Adams accused Fianna Fail, Fine Gael, Labour and the Progressive Democrats of not dealing with the real issues facing Irish society in the election.

With Sinn Fein tipped to take at least three seats, the West Belfast MP was sceptical about tomorrow’s televised debate between Mr Ahern and Mr Noonan.

‘‘Fianna Fail’s campaign has been about the feel-good factor,’’ he observed in Dublin as his party began its final pitch to voters.

‘‘It has been about which Taoiseach is the best craic (fun) and not about policies or issues.

‘‘There has not been a debate and this notion that there will be a real debate between Fianna Fail and Fine Gael is a nonsense.

‘‘Sometimes people say Bertie (Ahern) is the best thing Fianna Fail has going for them but before that Albert (Reynolds) was the best thing and before that somebody else. The best asset Fianna Fail has going for it is Fine Gael.’’