THE chairman of the Fianna Fail parliamentary party, Dr Rory O'Hanlon, last night attempted to dispel suggestions by the Government parties that sharp differences are opening between his party and the Progressive Democrats, putting a FF/PD alliance in doubt.
The Irish people could be quite confident of Mr Bertie Ahern's ability to form and lead a productive and harmonious government, Dr O'Hanlon said.
On Thursday, the Fianna Fail chief whip had acknowledged there were differences between the two parties on Northern Ireland and the privatisation of State companies.
The Democratic Left Minister of State, Mr Pat Rabbitte, joined in the fray yesterday saying that the FF/PD alliance was being strangled at birth.
"This level of trading of insults at this early stage in the parliamentary year is remarkable by any standards and invites comparison with the cohesion and performance of the present Coalition,", Mr Rabbitte continued.
Dr O'Hanlon said that in a week when it was revealed that the Minister for Finance had threatened to resign, and only a month after Mr Lowry was forced to resign, was hardly a good time for any Minister of State to boast about the solidarity and cohesion of the Government.
