Ahern to avoid pre-election tribunal

TAOISEACH Bertie Ahern is almost certain to escape having to make a potentially embarrassing appearance at the Planning Tribunal before the General Election is called.

The Fianna Fáil leader will not appear as a witness at the inquiry in Dublin Castle before May 22 at the earliest, according to a new timetable schedule issued by the tribunal.

It has previously only indicated that no witnesses in the Quarryvale II module — which is examining allegations of planning corruption in the controversial rezoning of land in west Dublin in the early 1990s — would be heard before May 1.