Ahern plays down tribunal problems in TV interview
Monday April 21 2008
TAOISEACH Bertie Ahern portrayed his tribunal problems as being down to "a row between two developers" in an interview on British television yesterday.
Mr Ahern told interviewer Adam Boulton on Sky News that it was the nature of tribunals to "rattle on" and he complained about demands made by the Mahon Tribunal for his financial records.
"We get a row between two developers and it takes us 11 years (to investigate)," he said. "In my view, it's a nonsense, and a recipe for further nonsense.
"We need to get rid of the 1921 (Tribunals of Inquiry) Act."
Mr Ahern said there had been six or eight tribunals over the past decade in Ireland.
"Most of them are coming to an end, although we still have two or three.
"It's in the nature of these things to rattle on."
Pressed on unexplained payments that were showing in his accounts -- and his long previous time without a bank account -- Mr Ahern said the latter had arisen because of his marital separation when estranged wife Miriam had sole access to their previous joint account. But he said he had "definitely made mistakes".
"If you had everything people were going to be asking for -- and there have been 80 people, senior counsel, at these hearings -- well, you would have kept your bus tickets and your stamps," he said. "If you bought an apple or a pint, you would keep your receipt."
Asked about his future, Mr Ahern said what he needed to do was to work out the next move, which was likely to be the last move of his career. "I've had a great political innings. I've a lot of options."
First, however, he would be working hard to get the Lisbon Treaty passed, he said. "I'm going to be active in the referendum campaign."
As to whether he could become President of the European Council once the treaty had been approved, the Taoiseach said there would be a lot of contenders for that job.
"I might not get it if Tony (Blair) wants to do the job, and I'm not sure that I want it. We have to do a lot of work before then," he commented.
Mr Ahern also said that the development of an all-island economy was crucial if Northern Ireland was to catch up economically, as it deserved to do.
"Politicians North and South can work together in practical ways, without any constitutional issues arising," he added.
- Senan Molony
