Sign up to The Irish Times Archive (1859 - 2008)My Account »

Tue 05 May 2004Taoiseach denies breaking 2002 election promisesELECTIONS 2004/Fianna Fáil European campaign launch: The Taoiseach has insisted that the Government parties have stuck to their 2002 election promises, saying that the media has not given adequate coverage to the Government's case on this issue.Launching his party's European Parliament election campaign yesterday Mr Ahern said each Fianna Fáil European Parliament candidate would guarantee to serve the full five-year term, rather than hand over their seat to a substitute in mid-term. This would be the position unless "exceptional circumstances" arose.