Ahern under further pressure over tax affairs

Taoiseach Bertie Ahern, is expected to come under more political pressure over his tax affairs this week.

Over the weekend, Mr Ahern admitted that he will not be able to provide a certificate proving he is tax compliant to the Oireachtas ethics watchdog.

He said his tax advisor was in discussions with the Revenue Commissioners and, while those talks continue, he has provided the Standards in Public Office Commission with an Application Statement, as required under ethics legislation.

Mr Ahern said that, to the best of his knowledge, he was tax compliant.

However, Fine Gael's Eugene Regan says the Taoiseach has failed to explain why he "misled" the public and the Dáil about his tax affairs by saying previously that he had no problems in relation to taxation matters.

Labour's Joan Burton has made similar comments, saying Mr Ahern knew he had issues to resolve with the Revenue Commissioners, but continued to insist until the weekend that had no tax problems.