Additional day to be arranged for Ahern evidence

An additional day's appearance at the Mahon tribunal is to be scheduled for Taoiseach Bertie Ahern.

He had been scheduled to appear at the tribunal over two days only. But by lunchtime yesterday, following meticulous questioning by tribunal counsel Des O'Neill SC, it became obvious that the Taoiseach's evidence would not be completed by the evening.

Just before lunch, Mr Ahern asked the tribunal chairman, Judge Alan Mahon, what time he might finish, since he had an appointment with the prime minister of Iceland.

Judge Mahon consulted with Mr O'Neill, who said that he would need another day to complete his work.

After lunch, Conor Maguire SC, counsel for Mr Ahern, said that his client had initially been told his appearance would take less than two half-days, he had then been told one full day and part of a second day, and he was now being asked for a third day, possibly going into a fourth day.

"We find ourselves extremely frustrated in trying to organise the Taoiseach's business for his appearance here in the tribunal," he said.

"It is impossible, often when there is a lot of evidence involved, to identify with any degree of precision the length of time a particular witness or a particular case will take," Judge Mahon said. "We are absolutely satisfied the questioning conducted by Mr O'Neill yesterday was absolutely appropriate and absolutely essential."

He said that the tribunal would finish at 4pm to allow the Taoiseach to fulfil his appointment. He understood that one more day, sitting early and finishing late, would suffice.

He said that they would identify another day which would suit Mr Ahern.

At close of business last night a date had yet to be identified.

From next Tuesday developer Tom Gilmartin is scheduled to resume his evidence each morning, with former Fianna Fáil press secretary Frank Dunlop scheduled to take the stand each afternoon from Thursday on.