Ahern assures Tánaiste of no basis to £80,000 bribe

TAOISEACH Bertie Ahern has assured the Tánaiste Mary Harney that there is no basis to allegations that a sitting Fianna Fáil cabinet minister received a corrupt £80,000 (€127,261) payment.

This follows a claim that the Flood Tribunal has heard an allegation that a property developer gave the bribe to a minister in connection with planning decisions.

Ms Harney said yesterday that she had automatically asked the Taoiseach whether there was any truth in the allegation and was assured there was none.