Ahern under attack over his cabinet of 'cronies'

Opposition parties in Ireland united to attack the Taoiseach, Bertie Ahern, yesterday for indulging in "banana republic politics", amid allegations of cronyism.

Anger erupted because of disclosures that he had been lobbied heavily by business interests to retain the Defence Minister and the Agriculture Minister at the top table.

Mr Ahern had intended to demote both men but changed his mind after representations last week. He conceded that his cabinet line-up had been influenced by "enormous lobbying". Several prominent businessmen contacted the Taoiseach's department to plead the case for the Agriculture Minister, Joe Walsh.

"There was an enormous amount of lobbying as always. There were lobbies from farm groups, lobbies from other groups and from individuals," the Taoiseach said. But he added: "I didn't change much from where I wanted to go."

Fianna Fail, the centre-left party Mr Ahern leads, has been dogged by allegations of sleaze and cronyism for years. Nevertheless the party did well in a general election last month.

Denis Naughten, of Fine Gael, demanded more information, saying: "There is a perception that a 'golden circle' of powerful businessmen in this country has access to, and influence over, the Government".

Further controversy erupted over "jobs for the boys" because five ministers doled out 59 valuable state positions to friends, supporters and constituents in the dying hours of the last administration.

Two outgoing cabinet members signed the orders for the appointments while they were clearing out their desks. Fine Gael described the use of taxpayers' money to give jobs to the government's friends as "banana republic" politics.