Ahern rejects claims he delayed planning tribunal

The Taoiseach, Mr Ahern today rejected allegations that he had delayed handing over documents to the planning tribunal for five years.

Describing the claims which appeared in a Sunday newspaper as "unfounded and absurd" Mr Ahern said: "I want to take this opportunity to unreservedly refute that allegation. It is a lie."

Fianna Fáil are resisting calls to suspend Dáil business tomorrow to allow Mr Ahern make a statement.

Labour Party leader, Mr Pat Rabbitte, this evening said Mr Ahern should follow the lead set by Fianna Fáil backbencher, Ms Beverley Cooper Flynn who will make a statement in the Dáil addressing allegations that surfaced against her on Friday.

The Mayo TD is alleged to have assisted her father, former minister, Mr Pádraig Flynn evade tax by arranging the deposit of £50,000 in an offshore account to avoid tax.

The money is allegedly a payment from building developer Mr Tom Gilmartin, who claims the money was a political contribution. However, the cheque - which did not indicate the payee - was not passed on to Mr Flynn's party Fianna Fáil.

Mr Ahern declined to comment on allegations about Ms Cooper-Flynn saying they were the subject of an ongoing libel case.

Speaking at a press conference after his meeting with the Palestinian prime minister, Mr Ahmed Qurei, this afternoon, Mr Ahern defended his own relations with the tribunal.

"Having helped establish this tribunal I have at all times fully co-operated with it," he said.

He insisted the tribunal had never complained to him that he had in any way delayed its operation or complained about his responses. "Any suggestion to the contrary is a nonsense," he said. "Whenever the tribunal has requested that I furnish any information or documentation to it, I have always done so."

Mr Ahern said he was "delighted" that the tribunal is now to address the Quarryvale module.

"For the past number of years - and over the past two weekends - I have had to endure malicious, biased and misleading reports in the media about my alleged involvement in certain events 15 years ago," Mr Ahern said.

"I was previously the subject of a false allegation by Mr Denis "Starry" O'Brien, and I had to go to court to vindicate my reputation.

"That is why I am so anxious on this occasion to have the tribunal conclude its inquiry and report to the Oireachtas as soon as possible so that I can get the public vindication to which I am entitled." Mr Ahern added he had no "ongoing issue" with the tribunal.

The Taoiseach was responding to claims that he had failed to provide all documentation requested of him by the Planning Tribunal, including those detailing his dealings with builder Mr Tom Gilmartin. The tribunal is expected to begin hearing evidence within a month on Mr Gilmartin's failed attempt to build a massive retail development at Quarryvale, west Dublin, in the late 1980s, and what he says were demands for massive bribes from politicians and others.

It is understood Mr Ahern is among the senior Fianna Fáil figures Mr Gilmartin will claim he met, although is expected to make no specific allegation of wrongdoing against him.

Mr Ahern said this evening he made a statement to the Dáil in January 1999, in which he gave "a clear picture" of all events relating to his dealings with Mr Gilmartin. This statement was forwarded to the tribunal by Mr Ahern's solicitors, together with other documents that had been requested of him.

He said there were no notes of the meeting Mr Gilmartin claims to have had with him and other Fianna Fáil members in September 1989. He has previously claimed he had no recollection of the contents of this meeting.