Rabbitte accuses Ahern of misleading Dáil over deal

LABOUR leader Pat Rabbitte yesterday accused Taoiseach Bertie Ahern of deliberately misleading the Dáil over the controversial indemnity deal struck with the religious orders.

Forcefully repeating earlier allegations that Mr Ahern's numerous Dáil accounts of events leading up to the conclusion of the deal were inaccurate, Mr Rabbitte said the Taoiseach's many statements on the matter contradicted each other.

In particular, Mr Rabbitte focused on a February 12 Dáil statement by Mr Ahern that the then Attorney General Michael McDowell was involved at all stages of the negotiations an assertion subsequently contradicted by the report of the comptroller and auditor general and Mr McDowell himself.