Bertie blames Byrne for having appointed Burke

RAY BURKE was given a clean bill of health by the Garda Commissioner, prior to his appointment to the cabinet in 1997, the Taoiseach said yesterday.

The Taoiseach said that before appointing Mr Burke as Foreign Affairs Minister he consulted Garda Commissioner Pat Byrne about allegations of wrongdoing in the planning process, but the Commissioner said Garda investigations found nothing untoward.

“In the light of what I was told by him in respect of Ray Burke and planning matters, my assessment was confirmed that the rumours relating to him were unsubstantiated. I was therefore satisfied to proceed with his appointment.”