Tensions between Fine Gael and RTÉ over its hepatitis C No Tears drama have escalated significantly, following a warning from the party's leader, Mr Michael Noonan, that it is "unfair" and "legally very risky".
The third episode, which will be broadcast tonight on RTÉ 1, will begin to cover the crisis in the Blood Transfusion Service Board during Mr Noonan's time as minister for health.
"If it was a documentary based on the facts I would not have any objection," Mr Noonan told RTÉ's Week in Politics in his first public comment on the programme.
"But I know from the report I got from somebody who saw the four-part series on my behalf that there are scenes that have been concocted for dramatic purposes which are not related to the facts and could not be perceived to be related to the facts.
"And I think so close to an election to make up for dramatic purposes events which never happened which portray me in a bad light is not only unfair but legally very risky for RTÉ," he declared.
Defending his performance as minister, Mr Noonan, who expressed sympathy for the victims, said he had been vindicated by a subsequent investigation. He is not identified by name in No Tears, but is referred to as "the minister".
His special adviser, Mr Sean Donlon, was given a private screening by RTÉ of the four programmes before Christmas, following worries in Fine Gael about the impact they could have.
Last night, both RTÉ and Positive Action, the lobby group which represents women given infected Anti-D, declined to comment until they studied Mr Noonan's remarks.
Asked if the Fine Gael leader is considering legal action, a party spokesperson said: "He has nothing further to add at this time."
Leading Fine Gael TDs have come to his defence following poor opinion polls. Mayo TD Mr Enda Kenny, who was beaten by Mr Noonan in last year's leadership contest, said last week's Irish Times/MRBI rating should "galvanise" Fine Gael.
"This isn't a one-man band. The reaction should not be one of panic. Every member of the party has to get up off their butts and ask themselves what can I do about it," he said.
A Co Clare constituency poll, the latest in a series from TG4/MRBI, is expected to hold further bad news for the party, senior party figures conceded last night.
The four-seat constituency is one of Fine Gael's key targets.
It hopes that Ms Madeleine Taylor-Quinn can replace one of Fianna Fáil's three sitting TDs, Mr Tony Killeen, Mr Brendan Daly and the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands, Ms de Valera.
Defending Mr Noonan's performance, Fine Gael's Cork North West TD, Mr Michael Creed, said: "I am convinced that if Our Lord came down off the Cross there would not be unanimity amongst Christians."
Cork East TD and party chief whip Mr Paul Bradford said: "I don't think that there is a magic formula. Just because the Eircom idea wasn't met with universal approval doesn't mean that we should stop putting ideas forward."
Fine Gael is now hoping for a badly-needed boost from its February 15/16th ardfheis, while the Fine Gael Parliamentary Party this week will not criticise Mr Noonan's leadership.
Cork South Central TD Mr Simon Coveney said Fine Gael must emphasise its policy and visions rather than simply criticising the record of Fianna Fáil and the Progressive Democrats.
