DISPARAGING exchanges between the political parties are rumbling on in Leinster House as expectations of an early general election heighten.
Following a bitter dispute centring on the Progressive Democrats' finance spokesman, Mr Michael McDowell, Fine Gael's TD for Cork East, Mr Jim O'Keeffe, yesterday challenged Fianna Fail to spell out the PD policies they find "objectionable".
He was commenting on remarks by the Fianna Fail chief whip, Mr Dermot Ahern, that his party would have to critically examine Progressive Democrats policies in a post election situation.
Mr O'Keeffe said Mr Ahern's remarks were a "significant shot across the bows" that underscored "the temporary little arrangement underpinning the political marriage between the two parties.
"In an election year, it behoves Fianna Fail to tell the electorate what objectionable bits of PD policy would likely destabilise yet another Fianna Fail style coalition government.
"It could be that Dermot Ahern's comments on television last night reveal yet again the true nature of Fianna Fail who are pathologically incapable of partnership", said Mr O'Keeffe.
