There were furious exchanges between Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael yesterday over the nature of the relationship between Taoiseach Bertie Ahern and the Manchester-based casino developer Norman Turner, whose application for an Irish passport was processed by Mr Ahern's office.
Mr Ahern maintained there was nothing wrong with the way the passport application had been facilitated, but Fine Gael environment spokesman Phil Hogan insisted that it undermined the Taoiseach's claim that he had consistently opposed the Phoenix Park casino project.
"I refute in the strongest terms that I can, without getting too strong about it, that the suggestion that the passport application signifies some special relationship. It is an absolute fallacy. It is common practice," said Mr Ahern.
"One does not necessarily know the individuals involved. Of course, I knew Norman Turner and knew of his involvement in the Sonas development but, ultimately, the decision to grant a passport is solely the responsibility of the Passport Office," he said.
Pointing out that Mr Turner's mother was born in Cork, the Taoiseach said there was nothing wrong with any individual born outside of the country who is of Irish parentage receiving a passport. He cited Éamon de Valera, Erskine Childers, Paul McGrath and Mick McCarthy as examples.
"If he was a Fine Gaeler, if he was Phil Hogan's brother, I still would have helped him," said Mr Ahern.
Mr Hogan later maintained that Department of Finance documents released to Fine Gael under the Freedom of Information Act showed that Mr Turner was confidently expecting support for the Phoenix Park casino development from the then minister for finance, Mr Ahern, and the Fianna Fáil-led government.
Mr Hogan called on Mr Ahern to make a full statement on the nature of his relationship with Mr Turner. Earlier, the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Dermot Ahern, launched a fierce attack on Mr Hogan. Speaking on LMFM, the Minister said Mr Hogan had a record of smearing people, that he was "a disgrace" and "the lowest of the low".
Labour Party leader Eamon Gilmore said the new information about Mr Ahern's relationship with Mr Turner, coming on top of the issues surrounding his personal finances and tax affairs, was making his position untenable.