FINE GAEL:FINE GAEL leader Enda Kenny has called for the dissolution of the Dáil and the holding of a general election, on the basis that whoever takes over the leadership of Fianna Fáil needs to seek a new mandate.
He also suggested the Lisbon Treaty referendum should be postponed until after the summer.
Although he expressed sympathy for the outgoing Taoiseach on a personal level, he said that if Mr Ahern had adhered to his own self-proclaimed standards then his resignation would have come much sooner.
Speaking to reporters outside Leinster House, Mr Kenny said he had known the Taoiseach since 1977 when Mr Ahern was first elected to the Dáil: "I know that personally this is a very sad day for the Taoiseach, and I want to wish him well personally on his retirement as Taoiseach and for his future life."
But he added: "I have to say that this decision was inevitable. The Taoiseach here has bowed to the inevitable, based on the weight of his own evidence at the tribunal.
"The situation has been, as he recognised himself this morning, that the work of Government was being distracted by a series of unfolding events and facts discovered by the Mahon tribunal."
Mr Kenny was sharply critical of what he said was Mr Ahern's failure to apply the same standards to himself that he was applying to others.
"I believe that Bertie Ahern set standards and principles for others which he has not applied to himself until now.
"He set standards for Pádraig Flynn, for Charles Haughey, for Ray Burke, for Liam Lawlor.
"Had those principles and standards been applied in his own case, his resignation would have been much sooner.I regret to say that much of his good work over his years as Taoiseach and as minister will be overshadowed by yet another Fianna Fáil leader having to leave under these circumstances."
He continued: "It is very regrettable that all Ministers in his Cabinet, and his junior partners, saw fit to defend the Taoiseach in the knowledge that the situation was not as it should be.
"From that perspective we now face a new era and a new challenge and I believe that, whoever the new leader of Fianna Fáil is, that person should seek to clear the air and should go before the people to seek a mandate for the unfolding of a new era, leaving this sorry chapter of Irish politics behind us for once and for all.
"I am also glad that this decision has arrived before the Lisbon referendum is to be decided, because it was beginning to have an impact on people's views."
Repeating his call for a general election, Mr Kenny said: "I believe that this Government has not lived up to its commitments.
"I believe that, as we face a new challenge and a new time in Irish politics, that the new leader of Fianna Fáil should seek a mandate from the people of the country.
"I believe they have a right to say who they want to lead them, what parties they want to lead them and on what policies they want to [ be led]. And I believe that the new leader, whoever he or she is, should seek that mandate.
"All of the Ministers in the current Government and all of the Ministers in the junior partners have defended this Taoiseach on the basis of having done nothing wrong and of there being no lessening of the ability of Government to do its work. Clearly that has not been the case."
He also suggested that the Lisbon Treaty referendum should be postponed until after the summer.
"The Government have had no discussions with Fine Gael about an actual date for the Lisbon Treaty, and perhaps consideration should be given here to putting the Lisbon Treaty further out until the beginning of autumn."
"It would be difficult to have full Government focus on the Lisbon Treaty for EU Reform referendum on a date that we were being told but that wasn't actually confirmed."