PD reaction: Progressive Democrat leader Michael McDowell stayed silent last night following Taoiseach Bertie Ahern's explanation of money given to him by a group of businessmen in 1993.
Late last night, a spokesman for the Tánaiste replied "no comment" when asked for a reaction to Mr Ahern's interview, without offering any hint of the attitude being adopted by Mr McDowell.
However, senior PD figures privately gave a guarded welcome to Mr Ahern's version of events. The issue will dominate today's meeting of the Progressive Democrats' 13-strong parliamentary party, the first to be held under new party leader Michael McDowell, which was scheduled for 6pm but which may now be brought forward.
Some individuals wanted a meeting called immediately last night but they were told not to press for this to happen.
Last night the party's press officer contacted the members of the parliamentary party by text to tell them that Mr McDowell would not be reacting immediately to the Taoiseach's television interview.
Longford/Westmeath TD Mae Sexton had no comment to make on the issue, while Dún Laoghaire TD Fiona O'Malley also declined the opportunity to make a public comment.
One leading figure in the party, Paul Mackay, one of the co-founders, said Mr Ahern had given a "forthright explanation and had performed extremely well. "He came up front and gave the information. Unfortunately, he was forced into doing it, but he gave it. And I give him a 10 out of 10 for that."
Mr Mackay said he felt considerable sympathy for the people who had given money to Mr Ahern "because they are going to have their lives raked over".
"This was a whip-round amongst friends for a friend. There was a whip-round for Brian Lenihan when he was sick and nobody thought any the worse of the people who gave money on that occasion. This happens all the time.
"People get into trouble and when you see them against the wall, friends will help out and dig deep into their pockets. Most of them, the vast majority, are not looking for anything and don't want anything. I have a lot of sympathy for the people involved," he said.
One of the PDs' three trustees, Mr Mackay, who was reappointed to the role recently by Mr McDowell, said he believed the public would have a considerable degree of sympathy for Mr Ahern. "I can't see any wobbles creeping into the Progressive Democrats over this. I would like to think that there won't be."
Privately, some party sources believe that the PDs will be damaged by whatever action they take on the crisis. If they support Mr Ahern they will receive "double the blame that he does", but if they "pull away from Fianna Fáil, they will be left out in the wilderness for eight months and without any chance of getting back into power with Fianna Fáil while Bertie is leader".
