The Taoiseach and Tánaiste are satisfied there is no conflict of interest involved in the Minister for Transport, Mr Brennan, carrying out the inquiry into allegations that a cabinet member received €5,000 worth of drink and cigars from Aer Rianta in the early 1990s, writes Miriam Donohoe
As Opposition pressure mounted last night on the Minister to come out and categorically deny any role in the affair, the Taoiseach said he had "confidence" that Mr Brennan and the Department of Transport would "investigate the matter fully".
A spokeswoman for the Taoiseach said Mr Ahern had not spoken to Mr Brennan about the matter since the report of the unpaid gifts broke on Sunday.
"We don't accept that there is a conflict of interest, as the secretary general of a Department is impartial and should be allowed to investigate a matter at the request of a minister," she said.
The Tánaiste, Ms Harney, said through a spokesman she was "satisfied that a thorough investigation would be conducted into the matter".
However, Opposition pressure mounted on Mr Brennan to come out with a clear statement on the controversy. Both both Fine Gael and Labour are to raise the matter in the Dáil today.
Fine Gael Transport spokesman Mr Denis Naughten said it was now imperative the Minister categorically state he was not the cabinet member involved in the Aer Rianta allegations.
"The absence of a denial from Minister Brennan is feeding speculation which can easily be cleared up by a statement and which can prevent this investigation from developing into a farce." he said.
Outgoing Aer Rianta director Mr Dermot O'Leary claimed yesterday he raised the question of an unpaid ministerial Christmas gifts bill with the minister at the centre of the allegations in 1993.
Mr O'Leary's term as director was up two weeks ago, and Mr Brennan has not announced a replacement. Mr O'Leary refused to speak on the record to media organisations yesterday, but briefed several journalists off the record indicating he had been approached about the unpaid bill by a senior executive in Aer Rianta.
Yesterday, Mr Brennan refused to confirm outright or deny outright he was the senior politician at the centre of the allegations.
Asked if Mr O'Leary had raised the issue with him in 1993, Mr Brennan replied: "I am not going beyond telling you what I told you, which is the inquiry is on, the secretary general started it this morning. In 14 days' time we will have all the answers and we will deal with those details when they are published."
Pressed whether it was he who, as minister for transport and tourism in 1992, received the luxury goods, Mr Brennan replied: "I don't know from reading the piece [in a Sunday newspaper] whether it is one minister, or 10 ministers or over what period it is." The Minister said he would know in 14 days' time when he published the report he had ordered his Departmental secretary general to conduct.
Aer Rianta also announced yesterday it had ordered its company secretary and the head of internal audit to conduct an immediate inquiry into the article published in the Sunday Independent. The company refused to make any further comment on the matter.
Sources close to the Minister said last night that Mr Brennan was "adamant" he had no case to answer. It is understood the Minister feels he is being asked to deny something of which he does not know the full details.
While the Minister has given his secretary general 14 days to complete the inquiry, sources indicated that a report may be ready much sooner than this.
Mr Brennan repeated that he would comment "on the timing or the motivation" of the allegations once he has received the report.
Asked if the leak of the allegation was "sinister", the Minister said: "I will be in a much better position to comment on that, and I will comment on that, as soon as this report is available to me."