Ahern urged to accept his role in economic crisis

Former Taoiseach Bertie Ahern’s attempt to distance himself from any responsibility for the economic crisis has ignited angry calls for him to accept his role in the downturn.

Mr Ahern yesterday said, if asked, he would appear before the Oireachtas banking inquiry, but shrugged off responsibility for the crash, saying it happened after his time in office.

Speaking to Newstalk radio, the three-time taoiseach said he was willing to appear before the banking probe: “If I’m asked, of course I will. Unfortunately, it all happened, at least all the Anglo stuff and the bailout stuff and all of that, it happened after my time. If I can add anything to them of course [I will].”