The Oireachtas

On Wednesday, I beseeched Tony Gregory’s PA Valerie to put me on the list for the public gallery at the first sitting of the government in 2008.

I considered it an important addendum to the Mahon Tribunal’s investigations because several important questions had been unearthed during the Taoiseach’s questioning on the 20th and 21st of December 2007.

New figures revealed following the tribunal’s investigation found that Mr. Ahern’s compliance with tax laws were problematic.

The Taoiseach, formerly Minister for Finance, said that his compliance with tax requirements would be decided after the tribunal made its ruling a week before the Dail was due to resume government.

In the chamber of the Oireachtas Mr. Ahern refuted that claim,

“It is not correct. If I said so, I wasn’t correct, so I can’t recall if I did say, but I did not say, or if I did say it, I didn’t mean to say it, that these issues can’t be dealt with until the end of the Mahon tribunal”.

Watching the leader in action today in the Dail chamber was a revelation. Particularly telling was the poor attendance of government ministers after an initial vote. The place cleaned out in a few minutes, leaving Bertie and Brian Cowen mumbling to each other behind their hands.

As a signifier of the current dynamic of the government’s front bench, one need look no further than observing their seating habits in the Dail chamber.

Immediately following the vote, which was attended by all government ministers, there was an evacuation en masse prior to ‘leader’s questions’. The Taoiseach looked down at his pad, seemed to make notes. As the leader of the opposition, Enda Kenny opened up a barrage of strong criticism of the Taoiseach, the government ministers for supporting him and criticizing the tribunal’s activities subsequent to the Taoiseach’s last appearance there.

Mr. Ahern was permitted a response, he bumbled his way through it (above), uttering, as opposition leader Eamon Gilmore put it, a quadruple negative that he would have to reread from Dail transcripts to understand.

As leader’s questions continued, the government cabinet ministers imperceptibly disappeared into various ante-chambers. When Sinn Fein’s Caoimbin O’Caomhain, stood to ask the Taoiseach about his evidence to the tribunal only Brian Cowen, who faithfully sat by the Taoiseach and Martin Cullen-seated several empty places away-remained.

He struck an isolated figure, more so when Cowen excused himself. As he passed Cullen, he passed some comment. Cullen glanced at the Taoiseach seated alone now on the front bench, and moved to the seat next to him.

As leader’s questions continued Bertie’s chin disappeared deeper into this chest.

Later opposition call for a motion of confidence in the Mahon tribunal from the government

Pincer Movement by Opposition

Opposition party leaders Enda Kenny (Fine Gael) and Eamon Gilmore (Labour) attacked the Irish leader and his party Fianna Fail last weekend. Both called for the Taoiseach’s resignation following his evidence to the Mahon tribunal since September ‘07. The tribunal is investigating corrupt payment allegations against Mr. Ahern during the mid-90s when he was Minister for Finance. The allegations, made by embittered land developer Tom Gilmartin, are that Mr. Owen O’Callaghan, a cork property owner boasted he had Bertie in his pocket for two sums totallying 80,000 pounds. The subsequent Inquiry by the Mahon tribunal, has found significant sums of money moving in and out of the Irish prime minister’s accounts around the time in question. Each time Mr. Ahern, who promised a comprehensive accounting of all his finances prior to last year’s election, has given testimony, his explanations seem more indistinct and more funds are revealed. In a statement Mr. Kenny stated that Mr. Ahern had misled the Irish people in relation to his finances and his tax affairs.

Enda Kenny attacks Taoiseach

Full text of Mr Kenny’s statement on Taoiseach’s affairs:

More revelations of the Tribunal

Just before the Christmas break, the Irish Taoiseach, Bertie Ahern, appeared at the Tribunal. He gave evidence about his financial activities in the mid-90s.

He concluded this current round of questioning with a further revelation of receiving 5000 pounds.

All of this questioning is related to the so-called ‘dig-out’ that Mr. Ahern alleges he received; an explanation for Mr. Gilmartin’s allegations that he received a corrupt payment.

It would seem, in the light of the Tribunal’s investigations and the Irish leader’s explanations, that there are many questions pertaining to his financial dealings in his early career, as yet unanswered.

Why was he receiving funds from Willdover Ltd. If the funds were personal donations why were they concealed, through financial transactions and tranfers. If the funds were of a political nature why were they not defined as such.

Has Mr. Ahern paid tax on any of the funds. In the gallery of the Mahon Tribunal a learned lady, E., remarked upon the importance of tax compliance in relation to Bertie’s revelations about monies, sometimes significant amounts, which he received. My learned friend, who takes note of such transactions, remarked that the tax amounts due on the loans, if indeed they were loans, would be significant, not to mention interest acrued over the subsequent 10 year period.

Why have Mr. Ahern’s explanations differed, on many occasions, from the Tribunal’s discoveries of his financial activities.

In the absence of a clear and concise accounting for his financial transactions while he held the position of Minister for Finance and Taoiseach, is it appropriate that he continue as Leader of the Irish Nation.

The latter question has been dismissed by supporters of Mr. Ahern and his party; generally the response has been, Bertie has guided this country to unprecedented economic growth, or, he presided over a crucial stage of the peace process in the North. The premise of their argument being that his significant achievments outweigh any need for an objective analysis of his performance leading state institutions.