An Céachta Dearg
03-24-2008, 11:37 PM
The Taoiseach's brother has said he sees no reason why Bertie Ahern should step down before the end of his current term in office.
Noel Ahern said he was not troubled by last week's evidence at the Mahon tribunal in which new disclosures emerged about sterling lodgements to Bertie Ahern's building society account.
He criticised what he called the 'anti-Bertie brigade' in the media and said there seemed to be a campaign in media against his brother and anyone that has anything to do with him is 'fair game'.
Mr Ahern was also critical of last week's evidence saying that the Taoiseach's former secretary Gráinne Carruth was humiliated and bullied and said he believed there was a simple excuse behind the conflicting evidence. He told RTE's News At One , that the Quarryvale module had been turned into the 'Bertie Ahern module' and a "huge analysis of Bertie's life".
Noel Ahern said it was very difficult for anyone to remember every single detail and that his brother had spent many nights trying to reconcile his finances and if he got it wrong on one occasion "so what?"
"You're not talking about millions, you're talking about lodgements of £3,000 or £4,000. Small money relatively", he said.
Earlier a Government spokesman said the Taoiseach will deal with issues raised in the Mahon tribunal at the tribunal itself.
A report in today's Irish Times suggested that Mr Ahern may respond later this week to the new disclosures that emerged at the tribunal.
The spokesman said Mr Ahern continued to maintain that he will deal with Mahon issues at the Mahon tribunal, a view shared by Cork Fianna Fáil TD Noel O'Flynn, who described recent media speculation over the Mr Ahern's future in office as trial by media.
Speaking on RTE's Morning Ireland , the Chairman of the Oireachtas Ethics Committee said "our leader of our party will not be driven out of office by the media. It will be the Parliamentary Party who will make the decisions, if they are decisions to be made".
"The Taoiseach has made it clear through his own spokesman that he will be able to clarify matters when he returns to the tribunal. I think in the interests of natural justice that we should allow the tribunal to do its work", Mr O'Flynn added.
However, Louth Fianna Fáil councillor Frank Maher said last week's evidence at the Tribunal regarding sterling lodgements had raised some unsettling questions. He said that, in his opinion, it was logical that a new leader should be place for next year's local and European elections.
Mr Maher said the Taoiseach has some issues to deal with, particularly the upcoming referendum on the Lisbon Treaty and his address to the Congress, but should use the summer to "allow a time for reflection" and consider stepping down.
He added that it was crucial that Mr Ahern appear at the tribunal as quickly as possible to clear up the unsettling questions raised last week.
© 2008 ireland.com
http://www.ireland.com/newspaper/breaking/2008/0324/breaking24.htm
Noel Ahern said he was not troubled by last week's evidence at the Mahon tribunal in which new disclosures emerged about sterling lodgements to Bertie Ahern's building society account.
He criticised what he called the 'anti-Bertie brigade' in the media and said there seemed to be a campaign in media against his brother and anyone that has anything to do with him is 'fair game'.
Mr Ahern was also critical of last week's evidence saying that the Taoiseach's former secretary Gráinne Carruth was humiliated and bullied and said he believed there was a simple excuse behind the conflicting evidence. He told RTE's News At One , that the Quarryvale module had been turned into the 'Bertie Ahern module' and a "huge analysis of Bertie's life".
Noel Ahern said it was very difficult for anyone to remember every single detail and that his brother had spent many nights trying to reconcile his finances and if he got it wrong on one occasion "so what?"
"You're not talking about millions, you're talking about lodgements of £3,000 or £4,000. Small money relatively", he said.
Earlier a Government spokesman said the Taoiseach will deal with issues raised in the Mahon tribunal at the tribunal itself.
A report in today's Irish Times suggested that Mr Ahern may respond later this week to the new disclosures that emerged at the tribunal.
The spokesman said Mr Ahern continued to maintain that he will deal with Mahon issues at the Mahon tribunal, a view shared by Cork Fianna Fáil TD Noel O'Flynn, who described recent media speculation over the Mr Ahern's future in office as trial by media.
Speaking on RTE's Morning Ireland , the Chairman of the Oireachtas Ethics Committee said "our leader of our party will not be driven out of office by the media. It will be the Parliamentary Party who will make the decisions, if they are decisions to be made".
"The Taoiseach has made it clear through his own spokesman that he will be able to clarify matters when he returns to the tribunal. I think in the interests of natural justice that we should allow the tribunal to do its work", Mr O'Flynn added.
However, Louth Fianna Fáil councillor Frank Maher said last week's evidence at the Tribunal regarding sterling lodgements had raised some unsettling questions. He said that, in his opinion, it was logical that a new leader should be place for next year's local and European elections.
Mr Maher said the Taoiseach has some issues to deal with, particularly the upcoming referendum on the Lisbon Treaty and his address to the Congress, but should use the summer to "allow a time for reflection" and consider stepping down.
He added that it was crucial that Mr Ahern appear at the tribunal as quickly as possible to clear up the unsettling questions raised last week.
© 2008 ireland.com
http://www.ireland.com/newspaper/breaking/2008/0324/breaking24.htm