The Taoiseach has moved for the second time in nine weeks to reassert his authority in Fianna Fáil by demanding discipline from TDs and senators in the party, writes Arthur Beesley, Political Reporter..
Reaffirming his commitment to the Hanly health reform package after the Minister for Defence, Mr Smith, questioned the project three times last week, Mr Ahern said he would not tolerate any ill-discipline within the Government.
His remarks came after a Cabinet meeting at which the Minister for Health, Mr Martin, sought a clear signal of support for the reform plan in order to steady nerves. The Government obliged by publicly confirming that it now wants to move the project into the implementation phase.
Mr Ahern's call on TDs and senators to follow the party line came at a meeting of the parliamentary party last night.
With some senior Fianna Fáil TDs saying in private that the Smith affair had dented the Taoiseach's authority, Mr Ahern confirmed to the meeting that he had spoken with Mr Smith.
After telling the Cabinet that there would be no recriminations against Mr Smith, he said the Minister's public expression of regret had closed the matter. Mr Smith, who was present, did not comment.
The Taoiseach's remarks came after moves by local TDs and senators in Co Clare to support a campaign against any downgrading of Ennis hospital. Mr Ahern went on to tell the party that he expected them to support the "general areas" of Government policy and display unity of purpose.
His latest demand for cohesion follows a similar call for unity in September, when he admonished backbench TDs Mr John McGuinness and Mr Ned O'Keeffe for their consistent questioning of the Government's performance.
Mr O'Keeffe told a newspaper on Sunday that there should be an inquiry into the grants given by the Government to the Punchestown equestrian centre.
The Government chief whip, Ms Mary Hanafin, said last night that Mr Ahern had placed his remarks in the context of difficult decisions, including health reform measures, that the Government had to take. She said Mr Ahern told TDs that they had to help each other.
The remarks were taken as a clear warning he will not accept any more public displays of disunity within the party.
"He laid down the line in no uncertain terms," said one TD. "He just came out and said we all have to be singing from the same hymn-sheet."
But with Ministers at odds in recent months over the smoking ban and the wider health policy, the remarks were also seen to be particularly directed at Cabinet members.
Responding to private criticism that he should have dealt with Mr Smith sooner than Friday evening, Mr Ahern said he had travelled to Italy and Hungary in the interim and had learned long ago not to deal with domestic business when abroad.
The chairman of the parliamentary party, Mr Seamus Kirk, said the Taoiseach had not told the meeting whether he had given Mr Smith an ultimatum.
The meeting came after the Cabinet decided that health reform must now move into the implementation phase. Ministers were told that Mr Martin would provide regular updates. He is also expected to appoint the interim board of the new health services executive tomorrow or Friday.
Mr Ahern also told the Cabinet that he recognised the health reform programme would be difficult. In the Dáil, where Mr Smith sat beside him, the Taoiseach again emphasised that local interests would be able to make their views known to the groups implementing the package.
Speaking ahead of last night's meeting, Tipperary North TD Ms Maire Hoctor said concerns about Nenagh hospital must be taken into account.
Ms Hoctor, who spoke in favour of the Hanly plan at a meeting last week just before Mr Smith expressed reservations about it, said there were too many merits in the plan for it to be thrown out totally.
But she added: "It's unthinkable and unacceptable that there wouldn't be overnight doctors and 24-hour accident and emergency."