In his most strident insistence on the Coalition's stability since the recent spate of allegations of political impropriety began, the Taoiseach has said that relations between himself and the Tanaiste, Ms Harney, are "excellent".
Speaking in Leinster House yesterday, ail candidate, Mr John Cregan, was elected to the Seanad, Mr Ahern strongly dismissed persistent rumours that the coalition arrangement was under threat.
Asked if he was aware of the identity of the anonymous senior political figure referred to in The Irish Times on Monday as being likely to be mentioned in the tribunals, the Taoiseach replied "I don't know - but if you find out, you might give me a ring".
He had been "hearing stories all my 21 years around Leinster House". The latest stories were "old", going back to 1989 and the Flood and Moriarty tribunals had been established to deal with these.
He had "no idea" what the headline in The Irish Times of Monday alluded to when it said the coalition feared fresh turmoil over leaks about a senior political figure.
Referring to the fact that he had not informed Ms Harney about the £30,000 payment by Rennicks to Mr Burke until shortly before the story appeared in Magill magazine, Mr Ahern said that this amounted to an oversight on his part. No difficulties had been caused as a result of this.
The new terms of reference for the Flood Tribunal have been agreed, in principle, by the Cabinet, and will be given to the Opposition parties this evening writes Geraldine Kennedy.
It is understood that the Attorney General, Mr David Byrne, consulted the tribunal's chairman, Mr Justice Flood, about the changes.
Government sources indicated last night the new terms would enable the Flood Tribunal to investigate Mr Ray Burke in the same way that the Moriarty Tribunal is examining the affairs of Mr Charles Haughey and Mr Michael Lowry.
The move to change the terms arose after the discovery that Rennicks Ltd, a subsidiary of Fitzwilton Plc, had given a cheque, payable to cash, to Mr Burke in June, 1989. The Cabinet also gave its approval for the Minister for the Environment, Mr Dempsey, to make an Order to appoint three extra members to An Bord Pleanala.