The deputy leader of Fine Gael, Mr Jim Mitchell, has accused the Minister for Justice, Mr O'Donoghue, of making "outlandish claims" about an opinion poll on the party's leadership.
Mr O'Donoghue yesterday described as inadequate and evasive a response by the Fine Gael leader, Mr Michael Noonan, on the poll. He challenged Mr Noonan to name the "corporate cabal" of wealthy business interests who had commissioned, paid for and leaked an MRBI opinion poll, which he said was calculated to undermine Mr John Bruton as leader.
But Mr Noonan said that "no opinion polls which put questions about the relative popularity of people other than John Bruton who might lead Fine Gael" were conducted on his behalf or with his knowledge.
Mr Mitchell said last night that the Minister's claims had no basis. "The hysterical and distorted nature of his statement highlights the fact that Fianna Fail is rattled by Michael Noonan's decision that corporate donations henceforth be not accepted by Fine Gael," he said.
Last week Mr Mitchell said on RTE radio that he did not know the names of the people who sponsored the poll for testing support for alternative Fine Gael leaders. The use by Mr Mitchell of the results in his campaign for the party leadership last week appeared to raise a number of issues under the Electoral Act, according to the Public Offices Commission.
A spokesman said that if one did not know the name and address of a donor one could not accept the donation. However, Mr Mitchell said yesterday that Mr Noonan did not have any involvement in the poll.
He said the cost of the poll was to be borne equally by 20 Fine Gael supporters in their personal capacity. None of those, he said, was a corporate body or a well-known businessman, and the cost to each individual would be less than £500. He also said the poll was conducted after the motion of no confidence in Mr Bruton's leadership had already been tabled and therefore had no bearing on the timing of the motion.
The results were published after an IMS poll had been already published, and both had similar results. It could be argued, he said, that he benefited from both polls, but the result of the election belied that claim. Mr Mitchell said it seemed to him there were still grey areas in the ethics legislation. "However, for the avoidance of those, it is my intention to include it in my annual declaration."
Meanwhile, a spokesman for the Labour Party said it would submit a motion today calling on the Government to order the Committee on Environment and Local Government to allow a Labour Bill on corporate donations to pass to its second stage and be brought to a conclusion before the Easter recess. Last month the party's environment spokesman, Mr Eamon Gilmore, said the Government was "effectively attempting to bury" its legislation, which relates to donations to parties and candidates.