Martin praises Ahern’s performance at Mahon Tribunal

Health Minister Micheál Martin has praised the Taoiseach’s performance in the witness box at the Mahon Tribunal yesterday evening.

Speaking in Dublin this morning, Mr Martin said he believed Bertie Ahern did "very well".

He also claimed that headlines about the Taoiseach being "on the ropes" during his testimony were hyped.

Mr Ahern faced particularly tough questioning from Tom Gilmartin’s lawyer and admitted during his evidence that he may have attended a "chit chat" gathering with Mr Gilmartin in Leinster House in 1989.

He had previously insisted that he did not believe any such meeting took place.

Meanwhile, Former Fianna Fáil TD Liam Lawlor is due to resume his cross-examination of property developer Tom Gilmartin at the Mahon Tribunal today.

Mr Lawlor interrupted his questioning yesterday to allow the Taoiseach, Bertie Ahern, to give evidence.

The former politician has already been criticised by tribunal chairman Judge Alan Mahon for taking so long to question Mr Gilmartin, but he has insisted that he has to be thorough in order to expose the full facts.