Taoiseach Faces Probing Questions On Donations

Leaks From The Mahon Tribunal Set Off Political Firestorm

A shock report in The Irish Times last week has thrown the Mahon Tribunal back into the spotlight.

Previously leaked material from the tribunal had suggested that the Taoiseach Bertie Ahern could have recieved donations while serving as Minister of Finance in the early 1990s.

The Irish Times reports that the payments were in the form of repayable loans and that the amounts donated could add up to between Euro 50,000 and 100,000.

Initially the Taoiseach protested the leaks, saying that information given in confidence to the tribunal should remain private.

He also maintained that he had provided a full financial accounting for both himself and his family to the tribunal and condemned the "sinister leak of confidential information."

Opposition leaders called on Mr. Ahern to provide a full public accounting, Fine Gael leader Enda Kelly saying that it was in the public interest that the Taoiseach name the businessmen and amounts involved.

The Taoiseach responded by launching a scathing attack on the leakers at a launch of a new migration guide in Dublin in order to express his displeasure at the leaks.

"Calculated leaks from whatever source that distort these procedures are, in my view, sinister," he said.

"They constitute a further threat to the rights of the citizen and the integrity of our systems of accountability.

"I've given the tribunal full and comprehensive information about all of my financial and personal affairs over many years which might be of any interest to them.

"It's for them to assess its significance or relevance and, as always, if they have anything to ask me or write to me, I'll be very glad to answer it."

This response did not calm his political opponents though with calls for further disclosure continuing through the weekend and into this week.

Despite this clamour, the Taoiseach remained silent on the matter while conducting his official business on Monday.

He got a welcome boost with support from former-Tanaiste Mary Harney who commented that she thought that "the Taoiseach will clarify the matter. I'm not going to say whether I think he should or shouldn't, I think he will. That would be my expectation"

"When there are personal issues involved which is what is at the heart of this, I think we have always respected that."

"These are very harrowing times for individuals and we have never sought politically to get involved," she added

Labour leader Pat Ribbitte was not so easily convinced though, insisting that, "We need a statement from Mr Ahern to put this to bed before the Dáil resumes. It is not doing politics any good. He is the most senior politician in the land."

He added that "He needs to make a statement about the identity of the donors. Did he make any decisions that benefited them?"

Labour's Finance spokesman Dan Boyle added: "It is not in the Taoiseach's interest and the interest of the Government to allow these questions to remain unanswered."

As we went to press, the Taoiseach was expected to issue a statement on the affair before the Dáil sits on Wednesday.

Opposition leaders have already called for time to be set aside to discuss the issue, the Green Party saying they would call for time so Mr. Ahern can respond to the rumours.