FINE GAEL leader Enda Kenny said last night he was “disappointed” colleague Lucinda Creighton had publicly raised concerns about a party fundraiser.
Ms Creighton, who was speaking at the MacGill Summer School in Donegal on Tuesday, warned of the dangers of accepting political donations from bankers and property developers.
She said property developer Michael O’Flynn had been present at a party fundraiser at the K Club golf course and warned that “Fine Gael in government must be much, much more than simply ‘Fianna Fáil-lite’.”
Speaking to reporters prior to giving a lecture at the MacGill Summer School, Mr Kenny said: “These are internal matters for the Fine Gael party. I’m disappointed that they were raised at a public forum like the MacGill school and, from that point of view, I would have preferred had they been brought to my attention either through the parliamentary party or directly.”
Asked if he saw any merits in Ms Creighton’s comments, he replied: “The Fine Gael party have no truck with rogue builders, with hooky characters or shady characters.
“We have no dealings with brown envelopes, influence-buying, or dig-outs. The Fine Gael party is absolutely above board in all its financial dealings.”
Asked if Fine Gael would be giving the money back to Mr O’Flynn, the Fine Gael leader said: “I’m not going to cast aspersions upon anybody.” Pressed on the issue, he added: “Insofar as that’s concerned, that money is gone through the system, it’s perfectly above board.” Pressed further, he said: “It’s gone through our system. It’s not going back.”
“It’s a disservice to our own supporters all over the country that something like this would happen. I’d also make the point that Fine Gael policy is evolved through the political process, the front bench and the parliamentary party.”
Asked about his reaction in the event that former Progressive Democrat leader Michael McDowell offered himself for selection as a Fine Gael candidate in an election, he said: “I thought I heard Michael say, some years ago, that this phase of his public life was over. Now there are some interesting characters in his [Dublin South-East] constituency obviously. If Michael McDowell decides to apply for membership of the Fine Gael party, I can’t prevent that. I’m sure there would be a lively discussion at the constituency if an application comes in.”
During his speech to the summer school, Mr Kenny said Fine Gael would not have supported the blanket bank guarantee two years ago if the Dáil had been provided with the full information surrounding the solvency issues facing Anglo Irish Bank.
Mr Kenny said official documents released last week by the Public Accounts Committee, contrary to Government assertions, show no official or external expert pushed the Government to introduce a blanket guarantee “on nearly all the liabilities of virtually the entire banking system”.
“The Government’s decision to give a blanket guarantee to Anglo Irish Bank and Irish Nationwide ignored clear warnings from professional advisers Merrill Lynch and a senior civil servant.”
Mr Kenny said that throughout the October 2008 Oireachtas debate on the guarantee and up until the present day, the Government had presented the decision as driven by official advice.
“For me, the bottom line regretfully is that neither the Taoiseach nor the Minister for Finance have been fully forward with the truth in this matter,” Mr Kenny told the gathering.