Gormley: Mahon revelations distracting Government

The Minister for the Environment John Gormley says revelations concerning the Taoiseach at the Mahon Tribunal are distracting from the work of Government.

It emerged during yesterday's hearing that €30,000 borrowed from the account used for the upkeep of a Fianna Fáil office in Drumcondra, was used to buy a house in the name of the Taoiseach's former partner Celia Larkin.

Bertie Ahern told the Tribunal that the decision to loan the money to Ms Larkin was taken by the committee that runs St Luke's and he knew nothing about the matter until the house was in her name.

Minister Gormley said that while the work of the Tribunal must be allowed to continue, it is a distraction from the day to day running of the country.