Ahern’s ‘self-serving’ tribunal attack criticised
Labour deputy leader Joan Burton said Mr Ahern’s attack, which echoed similar comments by several of his ministers before Christmas, was “clearly part of a concerted effort, decided at governmental level, to try to undermine the tribunal”.
She also implied if Mr Ahern was the leader of any other parliamentary democracy he would have been removed from office by now given the questions hanging over him. “The unprecedented attack by the Taoiseach on the Mahon Tribunal is clearly part of a desperate attempt to divert attention away from the gaping holes uncovered by the tribunal in accounts Mr Ahern gave to the Dáil of the circumstances in which he received substantial amounts of money from wealthy businessmen in 1993 and 1994 and the serious new issues which have now emerged as to whether or not he met his obligations in regard to tax,” she said.
“It is hard to understate the seriousness of the issues that have emerged in the past few weeks about Mr Ahern’s tax status. We now have a situation where the Taoiseach admits he may not be able to get a tax clearance certificate from the Revenue Commissioners. Serious questions now also arise in regard to the tax clearance certificate Mr Ahern received after the election in 2002.”
Fine Gael senator Eugene Regan said the Taoiseach’s “self-serving statement” had “dodged” the key issues.
“The Taoiseach does not explain why he misled the Irish people and the Dáil about his tax affairs in 2006 and refused in the Dáil as recently as September 26, 2007, to correct the record,” said Mr Regan.
“The Taoiseach does not explain how a donation given for his party by [stockbroking firm] NCB ended up in his own bank account.
“The Taoiseach does not explain why 15 months after the Revenue initiated contact with him about tax liabilities, he still does not have a tax clearance certificate.
“The Taoiseach does not address the latest disclosure of a lodgment to a building society account in January 1994, given that he assured the Irish people on RTÉ that the so-called loans from friends and gifts from strangers were his only ‘unorthodox’ income in the period in question.”
Mr Regan also said the Taoiseach had no one to blame but himself for the tribunal’s continued questioning, given the fact the inquiry had uncovered large lodgments into Mr Ahern’s accounts or accounts operated for his benefit.
“If the Taoiseach had put forward a credible explanation for these lodgments, we would not need tribunal hearings,” said Mr Regan.
Fine Gael will put down a motion when the Dáil resumes at the end of January calling on the House to reaffirm its confidence “in the independence and integrity” of the tribunal.
Meanwhile, Ms Burton also criticised Fianna Fáil’s government partners for staying silent in face of the latest revelations about Mr Ahern’s personal finances.
“Is there any parliamentary democracy in the world where a head of government who found himself in this situation would be allowed to remain in office? The backing given to Mr Ahern by other Fianna Fáil ministers is hardly surprising. However, the silence of the Green Party and PD ministers is nothing short of astonishing.”
Where tax issues may arise for the Taoiseach:
Potential liability from the fact he lived in his St Luke’s constituency office rent-free for several years after his marriage separation.
Potential liabilities on the payments he accepted from businessmen in 1993 and 1994. Mr Ahern said these were “dig-outs” from friends in the shape of loans, which would mean no tax issues arise. The Revenue may take a different view.
A liability may arise on the £5,000 cheque used to open an Irish Permanent savings account in January 1994, depending on the origin of the money. Mr Ahern has so far been unable to account for the source of the cheque.
A liability may arise on the house he originally rented from Manchester-based businessman Micheal Wall before later purchasing it. Under law, if a landlord resides outside the country and rent is paid directly to their bank account either in the State or abroad, tax must be deducted by the tenant at the standard rate from the rent payable and remitted to the Revenue.
