The Dail was suspended for three hours yesterday after a bitter row between the Taoiseach and the opposition parties over proposals for regulating the financial services industry.
During other angry exchanges, the Green Party TD, Mr John Gormley, was suspended from the Dail for three days after a heated exchange with the Taoiseach over Government plans to introduce a levy on plastic bags.
During the order of business Mr Ahern was accused of misleading the House on the issue of what Minister would be dealing with legislation for the new single financial regulator. The Fine Gael finance spokesman, Mr Michael Noonan, said Mr Ahern told him last week the issue as to whether the Minister for Finance, Mr McCreevy, or the Tanaiste, Ms Harney, was responsible for legislation had been settled.
However, in reply to a question on the matter yesterday, Mr Ahern said a decision on which Minister was responsible had not been made. "It is likely that the Tanaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment or the Minister for Finance will introduce the legislation," Mr Ahern said.
The Fine Gael leader, Mr John Bruton, said "truthful answers are in order on the order of business".
"Last week on the Order of Business the Taoiseach said the issue as to which Minister is responsible for the legislation in question had been settled. Now he is unable to answer the question as to which Minister will sponsor the relevant Bill."
Mr Noonan accused the Taoiseach of deliberately misleading the House and asked him to correct the records.
Mr Gormley was suspended ail for three days after claiming he had been given conflicting information from the Taoiseach and the Minister for the Environment, Mr Dempsey, about how the tax on plastic bags was to be introduced.
Mr Gormley claimed he was told by the Taoiseach in the Dail on October 5th that no specific legislation was required for the introduction of a tax or a levy on plastic bags. However, he claimed that in a written Dail reply from the Minister for the Environment, he was told that "primary legislation" was required.
After being asked by the Ceann Comhairle to resume his seat, Mr Gormley was suspended. He said last night he was calling for an emergency meeting of the Committee on Procedure and Privileges to discuss the "clear injustice" of his suspension.
In a statement last night, the Government said it agreed last June to the introduction by the Revenue Commissioners of a levy on plastic bags. It said the Government decision provided for use of the earliest available legislative vehicle.