Formal inquiry into Ahern payments may be requested

A NUMBER of private individuals have made contact with the Standards in Public Office Commission (SIPO) to find out if they can formally request it to enquire into payments made to Taoiseach Bertie Ahern, the Irish Examiner has learned.

Under the Ethics in Public Office Act, any citizen of the State is entitled to lodge a request or complaint pertaining to an office holder.

However, no formal request has yet been made by any individuals or by opposition parties, though Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny and Labour leader Pat Rabbitte have indicated in the past week that they may lodge a complaint with SIPO.