Minister for Justice was aware of allegations against Flynn

The Minister for Justice, Michael McDowell, says he knew for some time about allegations of tax evasion against the former Fianna Fáil minister and European Commissioner, Padraig Flynn.

TV3 news reported on Friday that Mr Flynn deposited a party donation of £50,000, from developer Tom Gilmartin, into a bogus non-resident account in 1989.

His daughter Beverly Cooper Flynn TD has admitted setting up financial investments for her parents.

The Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny has offered Ms Cooper Flynn his party's Dáil time to make a personal statement to explain the matter.

There are fresh accusations in today’s Sunday Business Post that Mr Flynn failed to contact gardaí when he was told of planning corruption allegations by Mr Gilmartin in 1989.