Fine Gael is to reduce its co-operation with the Government in the Dáil in protest over Taoiseach Bertie Ahern's treatment of the party since the general election, particularly his handling of the election of the Leas-Cheann Comhairle.
Under changes imposed this week, Fine Gael has refused to offer Dáil "pairs" that allow Government Ministers to be absent for votes, unless they are away on business vital to the State's interests.
The decision of Mr Ahern to offer the Leas-Cheann Comhairle's position to Labour's Brendan Howlin without consulting Fine Gael has infuriated the main Opposition party. In particular, the tone of a letter sent by Mr Ahern to Enda Kenny on Monday night has caused considerable affront, Fine Gael has made clear.
The letter was sent following one written by Mr Kenny on June 19th in which Mr Kenny made clear that the Leas-Cheann Comhairle's position should be filled by an Opposition deputy.
Mr Ahern replied, saying he had offered it to Mr Howlin, Labour's former deputy leader.
"He has tried to ride roughshod over Fine Gael since the election took place. We are not going to lie down and be treated in this fashion," Dublin South TD Olivia Mitchell said.
The decision to restrict "pairs" could prove to be a considerable irritation to Ministers even though the Government has a sizeable majority.
It nearly lost an order of business vote yesterday when TDs, most of them newly-elected, were locked out of the chamber after the time for assembly had elapsed. The division was won by 61 to 59 votes.
Meanwhile, Mr Kenny was overwhelmingly re-elected as party leader by the Fine Gael parliamentary party at its meeting yesterday. The vote was taken by secret ballot and the result was not declared, but sources within the party indicated that there were "a tiny number of dissenters, if any at all".
