Ahern attempts to end debate on payments crisis

TAOISEACH Bertie Ahern yesterday attempted to close the saga over his payments’ controversy when he tersely refused to continue “rehashing the same questions”.

During one of the shortest Leaders Questions sessions since 2002, Mr Ahern brusquely dismissed further questioning by opposition leaders.

When Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny put it to him that his explanation of how he saved £50,000 (€63,000) was incredible, Mr Ahern replied: “I gave comprehensive answers yesterday so I will not go on each day rehashing the same questions.”

In his only specific answer to a question by Mr Kenny, the Taoiseach said he had received no other gift or donation in any other jurisdiction.

Labour leader Pat Rabbitte raised the issue of the Manchester payment, referring to comments by the Tánaiste Michael McDowell that the Taoiseach had undertaken to reconstitute the list. However, the Taoiseach reiterated that he had attended many events in Manchester and it would be impossible for him to try to piece together a list of those who attended each individual event.

“I cannot do it and will not be able to do it. I have explained this to the House, to the public and everywhere else. I have no problem getting a list of people, but I cannot reconstitute a list. That is the position.”

A spokesman for Tánaiste Michael McDowell said yesterday that the Taoiseach also restated his commitment to give to the tribunal any other names of which he becomes aware. He said the Taoiseach’s comments had not raised any new issue.

Green Party leader Trevor Sargent accused the Taoiseach of misleading the Dáil and the Irish people. Mr Sargent reminded Mr Ahern that he asked him in 1999 if he had received any payment which he considered to be unorthodox, unusual or irregular.

“By any standard, a tax-free gift of £8,000 is, or should be, unorthodox unusual and irregular,” he said. “By not coming clean in answer to this question in 1999, the Taoiseach has deliberately misled the Dáil.”

Mr Sargent also asked if, in the light of the controversy, the Taoiseach would introduce legislation to ban corporate donations and limit personal donations to nominal sums.

Mr Ahern replied that his Government had introduced several pieces of legislation and had established the Standards in Public Office Commission.

Earlier, Enterprise Minister Micheál Martin said that Mr Ahern had made an error of judgment.

Speaking on RTÉ’s Morning Ireland, Mr Martin said it was important to distinguish that from the fact that the Taoiseach had breached no law. On the same programme, Deputy Fiona O’Malley said the party expected the Taoiseach to continue efforts to establish the identities of the Manchester donors.