Harney: 'Ahern needs to address public unease over Mahon'

Taoiseach Bertie Ahern must act now to dispel "considerable public disquiet" about conflicting evidence on his personal finances given to the Mahon Tribunal, Minister for Health Mary Harney said today.

Last week, Mr Ahern's constituency secretary Grainne Carruth contradicted his earlier testimony by accepting she probably lodged sterling cash into accounts held by him and his two daughters in 1994.

The Taoiseach has previously insisted to the inquiry that the money came from salary cheques at the time.

Acting Progressive Democrats leader Ms Harney is the first Cabinet member to comment on the latest controversy surrounding the Taoiseach's personal finances.

Ms Harney said: "What I am saying is that the public disquiet has to be dispelled, and that is a matter for the Taoiseach, and only the Taoiseach can dispel that public disquiet", she said.

"I am not being specific as to what the Taoiseach should actually do. That is a matter for the Taoiseach."

"I am simply saying there is considerable public disquiet as a result of Grainne Carruth's evidence last week, and that public disquiet needs to be dispelled quickly," Ms Harney said.

The minister said she would raise the matter, if necessary, with the Taoiseach on a private basis and not at next week's Cabinet meeting.

The minister was speaking to reporters as she launched new research by the Office for Tobacco Control in Dublin.

Yesterday, Progressive Democrats Senator Fiona O'Malley claimed the Government's credibility was being undermined by the contradictory evidence.

"The Taoiseach owes it to the Irish people and to the profession of politics to clarify the contradictions that have emerged at the tribunal about his personal finances, and he should do it sooner rather than later," she said.

Ms O'Malley, who is also a candidate for the position of PD party leader, said Mr Ahern should not wait until his next tribunal appearance to clarify the issues.

Fine Gael yesterday claimed the previous silence on the issue by the Progressive Democrats and the Greens "amounted to collusion".

Minister for the Environment and Green Party leader John Gormley is expected to comment on the issue at a function in Co Meath this afternoon.