Ahern reported planning statement on payments

The Taoiseach has refused to bow to pressure to make a statement clarifying details of payments he received from wealthy friends…

The Taoiseach has refused to bow to pressure to make a statement clarifying details of payments he received from wealthy friends, despite making a number of public appearances in Dublin today.

However, Government sources were reported this evening indicating that Mr Ahern would make a statement tomorrow or Wednesday.

Mr Ahern has been under pressure from the Opposition to make a statement before the Dáil which resumes on Wednesday and RTE tonight reports sources saying over the next two days he will address the subject of payments he has admitted receiving while Minister for Finance in 1993.

Mr Ahern refused to answer reporters' questions at several public engagements today despite the Minister for Health and former tánaiste Mary Harney's expectation that he would clarify matters.

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"I am not going to say whether he should or shouldn't. I think he will. That would be my expectation," Ms Harney said this morning.

She refused to be drawn further, saying that questions about the Coalition partner's silence should be addressed to the new Progressive Democrats leader, Michael McDowell. Mr McDowell refused to comment on the matter at a public engagement today.

Despite a large media presence at Dublin Zoo to meet Mr Ahern just after 1pm, he refused to answer questions posed by the assembled reporters.

At a second engagement, the tenth anniversary of the School of Nursing and Midwifery at its site on D'Olier St this afternoon, Mr Ahern again declined to make a statement.

The Green Party has said it would be seeking to have Bertie Ahern make a statement and answer questions in the Dáil on Wednesday.

Whip Dan Boyle said he will ask Government Chief Whip Tom Kitt to make time available on first day of the new Dáil term for Mr Ahern to make a statement and take Opposition questions.

"It is important that this issue is dealt with speedily and with full clarity. It is not in the Taoiseach's interest and the interest of the Government to allow these questions to remain unanswered," Mr Boyle said.

Labour Party leader Pat Rabbitte had earlier called on the Taoiseach to make a definitive statement on payments he received from wealthy friends before the Dáil resumes.

Mr Rabbitte said: "He needs to make a statement about the identity of the donors, did he make any decisions that benefited them and so on?"

"I recall well his forensic pursuit and quite proper pursuit of Michael Lowry at the time private businessmen conferred advantage on him and in this situation it would appear that a number of businessmen have done precisely that for Mr Ahern, and it needs to be disposed of."

In an interview on RTE this morning, Mr Rabbitte denied allegations that the leak from the Mahon Tribunal was, as Mr Ahern suggested, a "sinister" plot.

The Labour Party leader also insisted suggestions the leak emanated from the Opposition was "complete nonsense", adding that it was more likely to have someone under investigation.

Mr Ahern has said the payments were intended to help him financially at the time of his separation from his wife Miriam in 1993. He has denied reports that the amount received was between €50,000 and €100,000.