Mahon receives cross-party support in Dail

The chairman of the Mahon tribunal, Judge Alan Mahon, has received cross-party support in the Dáil today despite the revelations he paid the Revenue Commissioners a £20,000 tax settlement.

Questioned before this morning's tribunal sitting, Judge Mahon was tight-lipped about the controversy. "All is said," he answered. He released a statement last night over the 1992 settlement.

The Minister for Defence, Mr Smith, told the Dáil this morning the Government "accepts unequivocally the suitability and integrity of Judge Alan Mahon, both as a judge and as chairman of the tribunal".

This was accepted by Fine Gael, Labour, the Greens and Sinn Féin, who all said they wished the work of the tribunal to continue as normal.

However, the Government's role in the affair came under attack, with the Green Party and Fine Gael demanding an explanation from the Minister for Justice, Mr McDowell.

Mr McDowell was on the Judicial Appointments Advisory Board which advised the Government on the appointment of Judge Mahon as a Circuit Court judge last year.

The Minister has refused to comment on whether or not he know of the tax issue when he recommended the appointment.A Department of Justice spokesman told ireland.comtoday the Minister would not be making a further statement on the matter.