O'Keeffe resignation: fall out continues
The fall out from the resignation of Minister of State Ned O’Keeffe is continuing.
Taoiseach Bertie Ahern is finding himself under attack, not just from the opposition but from his former Minister of State as well.
While his official statement thanks Mr Ahern for appointing him to the position, Mr O’Keeffe also takes a swipe at the Taoiseach for not giving him another job after Christmas.
The former Minister of State says the offer was to have been part of a deal agreed before Christmas. He also attacks one of the Taoiseach’s senior advisors for his role in the affair.
Mr Ahern will almost certainly face the media when he attends a function in north Dublin later today.
Meanwhile the opposition has also been on the attack. The most vocal criticism so far has come from Labour Party leader Ruairi Quinn.
He says the fact the affair was allowed to drag on for more than two months "underlines the lack of courage and political leadership on the part of the Taoiseach".
