Ahern faces grilling as tribunal row hots up

THE Government will come under pressure tomorrow to answer fresh claims that Taoiseach Bertie Ahern obstructed the workings of the Planning Tribunal and misled the Dáil.

Mr Ahern was accused yesterday of failing to provide the planning inquiry with five documents he promised would be given to the tribunal when he spoke in the Dáil five years ago.

Opposition parties want the Dáil business suspended tomorrow to allow Mr Ahern respond to the allegations. If true, he must resign as Taoiseach, the Green Party said last night.

The Taoiseach will also be under pressure to state if he intends to remove the Fianna Fáil party whip from Deputy Beverly Flynn over allegations she helped her father, former environment minister Padraig Flynn, invest a £50,000 cheque in an offshore account to avoid tax. Ms Flynn denies the allegations and insists the investment was legal.

The Fianna Fáil Ethics Committee will discuss the allegations later this week, but is unlikely to make any ruling until the matter has come before the tribunal.

Fine Gael believes Ms Flynn should give an explanation to the Dáil. "We will demand a full investigation into the financial affairs of her father, Padraig Flynn," said Fine Gael finance spokesman Richard Bruton.

Mr Ahern would not comment on the fresh allegations because, he said, the confidentiality clause of the tribunal precluded him from doing so.

Opposition parties insisted yesterday that Mr Ahern make a statement on the claims in the Dáil. Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny said it was only fair the Taoiseach be given an opportunity to clarify them before the tribunal deals with them next month. He called for the Dáil business to be suspended to allow Mr Ahern and Ms Flynn make statements .

Green Party leader Trevor Sargent said the Taoiseach must resign if the reports of obstruction are verified.

Labour also demanded that the Taoiseach make a full Dáil statement. "He must in particular state what action he intends to take against Deputy Flynn," said Labour leader Pat Rabbitte.

A debate in the Dáil seems unlikely this week as the Coalition parties seem set to vote down any motion demanding a suspension of usual business.

Meanwhile, former EU commissioner Padraig Flynn yesterday refused to comment on fresh allegations about his role in investigating planning corruption when he was Environment Minister in 1989.

He said he would not comment because he had respected the tribunal's confidentiality clause for years.

"The world and newspapers are full of allegations and the tribunal was set up to investigate these allegations. Why would I conduct a tribunal through the media? It is wrong," said Mr Flynn, adding he will continue to co-operate fully with the tribunal.