More revelations of the Tribunal
Posted by citizenjon on January 3, 2008
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.
