The Taoiseach Bertie Ahern has defended the fact that he didn't have a bank account in the late 1980s, and early 1990s.

BUSINESSMAN Tom Gilmartin insisted yesterday he had previously told lawyers for the Mahon Tribunal a close associate of Taoiseach Bertie Ahern had demanded £500,000 for Mr Ahern’s support.

Property developer Tom Gilmartin has said today that he informed the Mahon Tribunal nine years ago about the alleged incident in which he was asked to give IR£500,000 to the Taoiseach.

Property developer Tom Gilmartin is due back before the Mahon Tribunal today to face cross examination about his corruption allegations against the Taoiseach.

EMPLOYERS were yesterday warned they could be held responsible for incidents of bullying that occur outside of the workplace.

Passengers can expect full services at Shannon Airport after bosses and trade union leaders hammered out a deal on cutbacks, the Government said today.

BERTIE AHERN has had enough of questions about blank cheques.

TAOISEACH Bertie Ahern’s habit of signing blank cheques for Charles Haughey “undoubtedly facilitated the misuse” of taxpayer funds by the late party leader, according to the first report of the Moriarty Tribunal.

Warm tributes were paid today to former Tánaiste and Labour Party leader Michael O’Leary, who died after a long political and legal career.

Property Developer Tom Gilmartin has told the Mahon Tribunal that he informed the Taoiseach, Bertie Ahern, in 1989 about a £5m extortion demand he was subjected to in Leinster House that same year.

TAOISEACH Bertie Ahern’s barrister at the Mahon Tribunal has been rebuked for an attempt to demolish the credibility of key witness Tom Gilmartin.

TAOISEACH Bertie Ahern and Sligo businessman Tom Gilmartin have given the Mahon Tribunal conflicting accounts of meetings they had to discuss the redevelopment of Bachelors Walk in the late 1980s.

Finance Minister Charlie McCreevy’s prediction that slack economic conditions will shape today’s Budget took a knock yesterday with the release of surprisingly buoyant Government figures.

A new code of practice for young people working in bars and restaurants is being launched by the Minister for Labour, Tom Kitt.

Ireland is to take the lead in banning modern-day slavery at a crunch meeting of the International Labour Organisation in Geneva today.

Fine Gael's education spokesman Michael Creed has called on the Taoiseach to intervene in the teachers pay dispute.