A CANDIDATE for the leadership of the Progressive Democrats, Senator Fiona O'Malley, has said the credibility of the Government is being undermined by the contradictions surrounding the Taoiseach's evidence at the Mahon tribunal, STEPHEN COLLINS, Political Editor reports
She called on him to clarify the issues as soon as possible.
"He owes it to the Irish people and to the profession of politics to clarify the contradictions that have emerged at the tribunal about his personal finances and he should do it sooner rather than later," said Senator O'Malley.
She said Mr Ahern should not wait until his next tribunal appearance, which could be two months away, to clarify the issues.
"How can he expect his Cabinet colleagues to defend the contradictions that have emerged in the evidence to the tribunal? It is undermining the credibility of the Government," said Senator O'Malley.
She said the Irish people were owed an explanation. "Bertie Ahern got the confidence of the Irish people in the last election and they deserve to be told the full story. It is in his own interests to have the glaring contradictions in his evidence clarified."
The PD Senator said the episode was undermining the confidence people had in their politicians and this was deeply regrettable.
"Politics is a noble profession but it is being undermined by the fact that contradictions that have emerged at the tribunal are being allowed to persist," she said.
Meanwhile, a leading member of Fine Gael has accused members of the Cabinet of colluding with the Taoiseach by making excuses for his failure to give a full account of his personal finances.
Fine Gael spokesman on the environment Phil Hogan said Fianna Fáil's Coalition partners had abandoned the standards of honesty and integrity they had always espoused.
He also claimed that Fianna Fáil Ministers did not have the courage to stand up to Mr Ahern and tell him it was time to go.
Mr Hogan said that while several Ministers had been fearless in their onslaughts on the Mahon tribunal for its treatment of Mr Ahern, they were strangely silent when Gráinne Carruth suffered at the same tribunal. He said the entire Cabinet was now colluding to protect Mr Ahern.
"Collusion can be expected when public representatives are corrupt and venal. The historic tragedy we're now witnessing is the collaboration of public representatives who are not corrupt and venal. I do not accuse Mary Harney, John Gormley, Trevor Sargent or Eamon Ryan of corruption or venality.
"But I do accuse all four of abandoning what they have always stood for: straight dealing, honesty, integrity. Using the same excuse: 'We're not the moral watchdog of Fianna Fáil'. Mary Harney once was precisely that," said Mr Hogan.
"I do not agree with Mary Harney's policies. I never have. But I have always admired her courage, her honesty, her willingness to stand up and be counted. I am saddened that she is now silent. Silent as the grave into which her values can be consigned," he added.
Mr Hogan said the same applied to the Green Party leader, John Gormley. "Now, the man who routed Michael McDowell in Ranelagh is in a big office in the Custom House.
"And he is silent. As silent, on this issue, as Trevor Sargent, the man who pointed the way to much of what the tribunal has now revealed.
"The same is true of each and every person around the Cabinet table."
He said he had once admired a group in Fianna Fáil called "The Gang of Four" who had told Mr Haughey it was time to go. One of those involved was Noel Dempsey.
"There's no question over what Noel Dempsey believed in then. But what, now, does he believe in?
"Does Noel Dempsey believe in ordinary decent people getting by on pathetically small money, like Gráinne Carruth, or does he believe in the rich and powerful, like Bertie Ahern is and always was?" asked Mr Hogan.