Ahern ‘bemused’ by tribunal trawl

THE Taoiseach has said he was “bemused” by the Mahon Tribunal’s “cradle-to-grave trawl” of his personal finances.

But he insisted his involvement with the tribunal had not interfered with his work — despite having to spend six days in the witness box and numerous more preparing for those appearances.

Bertie Ahern also insisted he would remain on as Taoiseach until at least 2009 and lead Fianna Fáil into that year’s local and European elections.