Ahern was 'too dedicated to politics' - brother

The brother of the former taoiseach Bertie Ahern has said that "life is a doddle" for today's politicians when it comes to funding and resources.

Former TD Noel Ahern has been defending his brother, saying people need to distinguish from the commentary and what the Mahon tribunal actually found.

The tribunal report published yesterday said the evidence given by the former taoiseach about his finances was untrue.

Noel Ahern also hit out at the Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin for moving too fast to expel Bertie Ahern from the party.

He says if his brother had a fault, it was that he was too dedicated to politics.

"Politics has changed and in many ways we are looking at a different era," Noel Ahern said.

"There is funding in politics, now and in the past - now every TD has two secretaries, has printing facilities, if you get a certain quota in an election you can get a big refund…

"Life is a doddle compared (to) for people who were there 20, 30 years ago."