Taoiseach’s finances - Ahern must give a full account

THE extraordinary spectacle of Taoiseach Bertie Ahern being heckled by voters in Dublin’s O’Connell Street and on Moore Street is a political development without precedent.

For the Taoiseach, things have gone from bad to worse as a direct result of stonewalling questions about his finances in the 1990s. Cracks have appeared in his popularity rating following disclosures that his ex-partner Celia Larkin received stg£30,000 in December 1994 towards the cost of refurbishing his home.

Mr Ahern has since explained the money from Manchester businessman Michael Wall went towards refurbishment and stamp duty costs. Leaving questions hanging over the election campaign, he refuses to comment further until he appears at the Mahon tribunal after the election.

Whether Fianna Fáil weathers this storm will depend on what fresh allegations may come out of the woodwork.

With a hung Dáil in prospect, there is an onus on the Taoiseach to provide full, frank and transparent answers now rather than later.