FF defends use of world leaders in Ahern ad
Fianna Fáil tonight moved to defend its use of world political leaders in a television advertisement for Bertie Ahern.
The party insisted the broadcast which goes out after RTE1’s main evening news could not be compared with German chancellor Angela Merkel’s endorsement of Enda Kenny.
The high-profile backing of the Fine Gael leader to become the next Taoiseach at the time of the party’s ard fheis by his European colleague drew criticism from Fianna Fail at the time.
British Prime Minister Tony Blair, former US president Bill Clinton and former US senator George Mitchell all praise Mr Ahern’s role in the peace process in Fianna Fáil’s four-minute party political broadcast.
The party said each of the three world-renowned statesmen personally signed off the film fully aware it was to be used for party political purposes.
A Fianna Fáil spokesman said they were entitled to refer to Mr Ahern’s role in securing a power-sharing executive in Belfast.
“There is also a huge difference between this broadcast and what Willie O’Dea criticised in relation to Angela Merkel and Fine Gael,” he said.
“In that case she explicitly said that she hoped that Fine Gael would succeed in the election. This is a broadcast about peace and Bertie Ahern’s qualities.”
The interviews were recorded in London and New York in advance of the general election being announced.
Fianna Fáil insisted the party was entitled to talk about its achievements adding that nothing was more important to them than peace.
“Fine Gael used Bill Clinton in its broadcasts in 1997 so they have no right to complain,” said the party spokesman.
“Each was told in advance that the interviews would be used in our broadcast.”
“Each was shown the broadcast and personally signed off on it,” he added.
