Bertie Ahern set for banking inquiry appearance

Former Taoiseach Bertie Ahern is set to launch a vigorous defence of his economic record when he returns to Leinster House today.

The ex-Fianna Fáil leader, who served three terms as Taoiseach, is due to give evidence at the banking inquiry.

Ahern announced he was stepping down as Taoiseach in April 2008, after almost 11 years in the job. Only a few months later, the economy had crumbled and the bank guarantee was introduced.

The inquiry has already been told that a crisis unit had been set up within the Department of Finance, just months after Ahern won his third term as Taoiseach, to consider the prospect of a bank guarantee.

So among the questions today will be whether the former Fianna Fáil leader had any inkling that such a major financial shock was coming and whether that might have influenced his decision to step down.

However, Ahern is likely to pursue the same tactic as his former cabinet colleagues who have already appeared at the inquiry and remind members of how strong Ireland's economy was, just before it went south.

Ahern is due in the afternoon, this morning the inquiry will hear from the former Attorney General Paul Gallagher.

Gallagher was one of only three members of Cabinet who was in Government buildings on the night of the bank guarantee.