The Taoiseach has signalled that continuing contradictions between the Dublin North TD, Mr G.V. Wright, and the Cork property developer Mr Owen O'Callaghan, will be resolved by the Flood tribunal and not the Fianna Fail party.
In his first reaction to the party's inquiry into payments to politicians, Mr Ahern ruled out any Fianna Fail action arising from the internal report, saying it was up to the tribunal to deal with issues that had arisen.
A spokesman for Mr Ahern said the committee did its best and put in 100 hours to produce "a very good report".
"It is now a matter for the tribunal to investigate the issues involved and the tribunal is the only forum which has the appropriate powers to do so comprehensively," the spokesman said.
Mr Ahern last night chaired a meeting of the Fianna Fail National Executive at which the report was discussed. It will also be discussed by the parliamentary party next week.
The Progressive Democrats said after an informal meeting of its parliamentary party yesterday that, while it was ultimately a matter for Fianna Fail and the tribunal, they were "concerned" about the contradictions concerning payments to Mr Wright and said they wanted to see the matter "clarified". The Tanaiste, Ms Harney, and the former PD leader, Mr Des O'Malley, were not at the meeting as they were out of the country on business.
The Taoiseach's indication that matters would be left to the tribunal came as Mr Wright met two members of the inquiry team, Mr Dick Roche and Mr David Andrews, as pressure increased on him to clarify publicly whether he solicited a political donation of £5,000 from the Cork property developer, Mr Owen O'Callaghan, in 1992. Mr Wright told them he had no recollection of asking for money.
Mr O'Callaghan reiterated to The Irish Times that the money was solicited directly by Mr Wright at a venue in Dublin eight years ago. He said through a spokesman that he could accept Mr Wright may have no recollection of having made the approach.
"But I have to reiterate that an approach was made to me by the Deputy for an electoral contribution."
Mr Andrews said after meeting Mr Wright that the matter was not "a hanging offence".
At the end of the day, he said, the matter was down to two different points of view. While he was not questioning Mr O'Callaghan, he had to accept Mr Wright's version of events.
He said the two differed only on the question of who asked for the money. Mr Wright refused to comment on the issue yesterday.