Just three raise concerns on appointment at FF meeting

The Carlow-Kilkenny TD, Mr John McGuinness, was the first get to his feet at the weekly Fianna Fail parliamentary party meeting yesterday. He was among three at the "well attended" meeting to raise concerns about the O'Flaherty appointment.

Mr McGuinness said it was "inappropriate". Given the backdrop to Mr O'Flaherty's appointment - his resignation from the Supreme Court last year at the height of the Sheedy controversy - he said he believed the former judge was an inappropriate person being appointed at an inappropriate time.

Over the next hour and 45 minutes, 14 other people, including the Taoiseach, Mr Ahern, and the Minister for Finance, Mr McCreevy, spoke.

Mr Billy Kelleher (Cork North-Central) and Mr Dick Roche (Wicklow) spoke against the appointment. Mr Kelleher said he thought it sent the wrong messages to the electorate, while Mr Roche expressed concerns about his party's handling of the announcement. They each said they had been getting "concerned" phone calls from constituents at the appointment.

Mr Michael Ahern (Cork East) interjected that he had not had any phone calls.

Ten others spoke from the floor. Mr Chris Flood (Dublin South-West) is said to have been "passionate" in his admiration of Mr McCreevy's choice for the post at the European Investment Bank. He called the nomination of Mr O'Flaherty an "excellent appointment" and Mr O'Flaherty an "excellent judge" and a man who was "far too badly treated".

Mr John Ellis (Sligo-Leitrim) offered his staunch support to the Government.

Senator Ann Leonard also supported the Government's choice, as did Mr Conor Lenihan (Dublin South-West), who advised his party colleagues to remember that the Tanaiste, Ms Harney, was satisfied.

Mr Ivor Callely (Dublin North-Central) is said to have put up a "strong defence" of the appointment. Senator Willie Farrell said the party should not be "running scared" of the media.

Mr McCreevy asked the party to remember that there had been criticism of Government appointments in the past. In a speech that was described as "very entertaining", he said he would not be dictated to by the media. If standing up for his policies meant being branded as "arrogant", he was "happy to be the most arrogant Minister in the House".

He also said he came from a part of the country (Kildare North) where, when someone fell, you didn't "stamp on them".

The Taoiseach, Mr Ahern, said he acknowledged there was public concern but that he had followed the appointment "step by step". He said Mr O'Flaherty had had 40 years' experience in the courts, had an "impeccable record", and had expected to become Chief Justice. For that reason, he said, Mr O'Flaherty should not be "branded" for the rest of his life.

There was no call at the meeting for Mr O'Flaherty to explain his role in the Sheedy affair before taking up the post. Nor were concerns raised about the effect of the controversy on the party's relationship with the Progressive Democrats.

Both the Taoiseach and the Minister for Finance received ovations following their speeches. Mr McGuinness left the meeting to speak on Radio Kilkenny against the appointment.