Ahern: 'Nothing wrong about Turner securing passport'

The Taoiseach, Bertie Ahern, has insisted that there was nothing wrong about Norman Turner securing an Irish passport in 1994.

Fine Gael is demanding that Mr Ahern clarify his relationship with the Manchester businessman following the revelation that a passport for Turner was channelled through his (Mr Ahern's) office while he was Minister for Finance in 1994.

Mr Turner, the man behind the failed plan to build a casino in the Phoenix Park, gave $10,000 to Fianna Fáil in the same year as the passport application.

However, speaking in Dublin today, the Taoiseach said Mr Turner's mother was Irish and there was nothing wrong with his receiving an Irish passport.

Mr Ahern also claimed a "small band of people" within Fine Gael were out to destroy his reputation.

Meanwhile, government TDs have also attacked the Opposition in the Dail this morning amid an ongoing debate about the Mahon Tribunal.

Fianna Fáil TD Martin Mansergh claimed the pressure the opposition is putting on the Taoiseach reflected poorly on the leaders of Fine Gael and the Labour Party.

He accused them of being afraid to say during the election what they are saying now about Mr Ahern's financial and tax affairs.