The entire Opposition walked out of the Dβil yesterday in protest at the Government's refusal to allow a motion of censure against the Independent Donegal TD, Mr Tom Gildea.

Mr Gildea, who alleged illegality and abuse of her powers by the former minister for justice, Mrs Nora Owen, apologised in a brief sentence "for the hurt caused to Deputy Owen and her party".

But Opposition deputies were outraged, demanding a full apology and a withdrawal of the substance of his remarks.

Mrs Owen said: "I have been ruined, quite frankly by the untrue, unfounded allegations made last night" and her name had been associated with the word "bribery" in newspaper headlines.

She insisted that the Ceann Comhairle vindicate her rights and protect her good name as a member of the House and "the only way I can get my good name back is by allowing this motion of censure to be passed".

The Tβnaiste, Ms Harney, said "on behalf of the Government, we feel strongly that it should not have happened".

She told the Dβil the remarks were totally unwarranted and unfounded and within minutes of them being made, the Chief Whip spoke to Mr Gildea and asked him to withdraw them, which he did. "We would be dealing with a different situation if they were not.

"I regret very much that the privilege that is afforded to members should be abused in any way and should cause such offence as it has to Deputy Owen and her family", Ms Harney said.

During an angry and lengthy debate on the order of business, the Fine Gael leader, Mr Michael Noonan, demanded the Government allow time for a debate to formally censure the Donegal South West TD for his "scurrilous and unfounded" allegations.

Spotting Mr Gildea at the edge of the chamber he called on him to "come in here and be a man. Don't hang outside the railings.

" Come into the house and be a man and apologise to the injured party."

The Independent deputy, who has an agreement with the Government, had accused Ms Owen of abusing her powers, and putting undue pressure on the garda∅ in Co Donegal.

He had been speaking during a debate calling for a tribunal into allegations of Garda misconduct surrounding the investigation of the death of a local cattle dealer, Mr Richie Barron, in 1995.

Mr Noonan said that even though the allegations were withdrawn, "it is profoundly unfair that a deputy should use the privilege of the House to make scurrilous and unfounded allegations and then withdraw them and walk away from any responsibility".

Labour leader Mr Ruair∅ Quinn said Mr Gildea's remarks were "so ungraciously withdrawn if withdrawn at all" and they still stood on the record.

In an angry exchange the Ceann Comhairle, Mr Seamus Pattison, told Mr Noonan not to lecture him, after the Fine Gael leader said Mr Pattison had a responsibility in all this. The Ceann Comhairle said he was not a judge "and this House is not a court of law".

Mrs Owen, a TD for 20 years, said "I have been ruined quite frankly by the untrue, unfounded allegations made last night.

"There is not a scintilla of truth in what Deputy Gildea has said", Mrs Owen said, adding that if the Ceann Comhairle did not intervene any TD could make such allegations.

Mr Noonan, insisting he had the "utmost respect" for the Office of the Ceann Comhairle, said the "damage inflicted on Deputy Owen has been very serious.

"The false allegations made by Deputy Gildea are under privilege and are being carried on the national airwaves and most of the local radio stations".

Ms Harney welcomed the apology. "I wish that had happened sooner. I think it is very significant that he has done so."

Mr Noonan suggested there was a "dirty tricks department" operating in Fianna Fβil with charges that were "centrally scripted" as Government members made "malicious, vicious, personalised attacks" on Opposition members.

Ms Harney requested that a meeting of the Committee on Procedure and Privileges be called to deal with the issue.

When the Ceann Comhairle said he would now take relevant questions on the order of business, the Opposition walked out.