PD silence prompts rumours of Govt collapse
The Government appears to be in trouble this morning over the on-going controversy surrounding payments to the Taoiseach.
The Progressive Democrats have still not responded to yesterday's admission by Bertie Ahern that he bought his Dublin home from a man who attended the infamous Manchester function in 1994.
Mr Ahern said Michael Wall was not one of the men who gave him £8,000 (€12,000) at that function and was paid full market value for the house in Drumcondra in 1997.
However, PD leader Michael McDowell is understood to be furious at the fact that he was not told this before he gave the Taoiseach his backing earlier this week.
Reports this morning claim Mr Ahern issued an ultimatum to Mr McDowell to either stand by him or walk away from the coalition.
Government chief whip Tom Kitt has also made it clear that Fianna Fáil is prepared to seek the support of independent TDs in order to remain in power should the PDs jump ship.
