I could have had key role in tackling downturn: Ahern

FORMER Taoiseach Bertie Ahern says he wished he stayed in the position because his experience would have enabled him to play a “key role” in combating the downturn.

In an interview to be broadcast on RTÉ tonight, Mr Ahern defends his government’s handling of the banks, and is quizzed about his personal financial dealings and his appearance before the Moriarty Tribunal.

“I do not remember any economist... coming out saying to us ‘you need to have an investigation into any of the capitalisation of the banks’,” he says.

“Did I wish I was there for longer? I would have loved, because of my experience, to be there a few more years because I honestly believe — and it’s not taking anything from Brian Cowen or anyone else — the experience I had from the early years of dealing with the currency crisis and being in finance... that I would have been able to pay a key role in that. I would have been far happier, hands-on in that crisis, than out twiddling my thumbs.”

He is also asked what he did with “the money”.

“Well, I had to give all the explanations of what I did with the money,” he replies. “I earned in the period over €300,000 and what I did was I cashed the cheques.

“I got myself a house. I started paying the mortgage on the house and I paid part of that towards the house, and I paid some other things. I had to explain every penny to the tribunal of what I did, and I did that.”

He is then asked did he pay all the money back to people.

“It all,” Mr Ahern replies.

“Some of them didn’t accept it and some of them still didn’t accept it so I gave it to a charity.”

* The Big Interview with Mike Murphy: Bertie Ahern will be shown on RTÉ One at 10.15pm.