THE TAOISEACH has come under serious political pressure from his Coalition partners for the first time since the formation of the Government, with the calls by the Greens and the Progressive Democrats for him to clarify contradictions in the evidence given to the Mahon tribunal about his financial affairs, STEPHEN COLLINS, Political Editor reports
However, indications last night were that Mr Ahern was sticking by his plan not to respond to last week's disclosure about the sterling lodgements to his building society account until his next tribunal appearance.
A spokesman for the Taoiseach said Mr Ahern would be happy to deal with the events raised in Gráinne Carruth's evidence during his own evidence to the Mahon tribunal at a date to be finalised. Mr Ahern is not listed to appear at the tribunal until after May 20th.
The Minister for Health and acting leader of the PDs, Mary Harney, said yesterday that Mr Ahern should respond quickly in order to dispel public disquiet, while Green Party leader and Minister for the Environment John Gormley called for clarification, but did not specify a timescale.
Ms Harney was commenting on the call by her party colleague, Senator Fiona O'Malley, for the Taoiseach to make an early statement on the issue in advance of his next appearance at the Mahon tribunal.
"What I am saying is that public disquiet has to be dispelled and that is a matter for the Taoiseach," Ms Harney said. "Only the Taoiseach can dispel that public disquiet. I'm not being specific about what the Taoiseach should actually do.
"There is nobody else who can dispel it. I'm simply saying there is considerable public disquiet as a result of Gráinne Carruth's evidence last week and that public disquiet needs to be dispelled quickly."
She added that Mr Ahern was a clever, skilful politician and it was up to him to dispel the disquiet that had clearly arisen as a result of Ms Carruth's evidence last week.
Later in the day Mr Gormley said Mr Ahern should make a clarifying statement. "There is evidence of growing public interest in this issue and there are concerns. More information from the Taoiseach would help here," he said.
"I think the Taoiseach is a very experienced politician. I think he knows it's in his best interest and that of his party and the country at large that a clarifying statement is made."
He said there was considerable concern in his party and among the public about the latest revelations and he added that concern had been expressed at a meeting between the Green parliamentary party and councillors in Leinster House on Wednesday.
Green Party councillor Nessa Childers said Mr Ahern's position as leader had been compromised and the country had been left without a strong leader at a time of economic turbulence and other challenges.
Fine Gael environment spokesman, Phil Hogan, welcomed the fact that Ms Harney and Mr Gormley had "finally emerged from their self-imposed tribunal hibernation" to express their disquiet over the recent disclosure about the lodgement of £15,500 into the Taoiseach's accounts.
He said it was a significant new development that the junior Coalition partners had both finally reached a point where the extraordinary events at the tribunal had finally forced them to react.
Labour Party leader Eamon Gilmore said the comments by the two Ministers revealed the first crack in Government support for Mr Ahern. "They are in effect saying the game is up for the Taoiseach," he added.
However, two Ministers have said the outcome of the tribunal should not be prejudged.
"It is not for me, it is not for you [ the media], it is not for Opposition politicians to make the findings which the Oireachtas has asked the tribunal to make. The issues that have been raised at the tribunal are matters for the tribunal," Minister for Justice Brian Lenihan said during a visit to Limerick.
Minister for Defence Willie O'Dea, also defended his leader. "The Taoiseach's position is that he is going to deal with these matters at the tribunal which is the right place to deal with them."