Ministers rally around embattled Bertie

FIANNA FÁIL ministers robustly defended Taoiseach Bertie Ahern yesterday and insisted his planned public statement will clarify any confusion arising from his financial dealings.

Hours after the Progressive Democrats leader Michael McDowell called for a public statement from the Taoiseach, Finance Minister Brian Cowen confirmed that Mr Ahern would seek legal advice about bringing all relevant information into the public domain before the end of the election campaign.

He said the current controversy centering on a stg£30,000 payment to Mr Ahern was a “deliberate attempt to damage the Taoiseach”.