The surprise statement issued by the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr Burke, to counter allegations that he received £80,000 in political contributions has been challenged by the Opposition for "failing to answer a number of reasonable questions".
However, the Tanaiste, Ms Harney, yesterday rallied to Mr Burke's defence, describing his statement as unambivalent, and definite about the facts and the truth. The Taoiseach, Mr Ahern - who is on holiday - had advance notice of the contents of the release, which was issued as a personal statement through Mr Burke's department. The Tanaiste was also aware that it was about to be published.
Mr Burke is understood to have been prompted to make the statement following persistent newspaper reports, particularly one in last weekend's Sunday Times, that he was paid £80,000 in political contributions.
In spite of the Minister's attestation, Fine Gael and Labour warned that they will press for answers to questions that they claim remain unresolved.
Government sources said the Taoiseach was "satisfied there is no basis to the allegations". These sources and others close to Ms Harney indicated that as far as they were concerned the matter now rests.
Mr Burke vehemently defended his position, saying he had been the target of "a vicious campaign of rumour and innuendo", which had intensified since he was appointed Minister.
He warned that "if any further untruths" were published about him, he would "take all necessary steps to vindicate my good name and reputation". He did not, however, indicate that he intended to take legal action against the publishers of allegations to date.
He said that during the 1989 election campaign he was visited at home by Mr Michael Bailey of Bovale Developments Ltd and a Mr James Gogarty, ail supporter.the former of whom was well known to him.
Mr Burke had not, however, met Mr Gogarty previously, but he was introduced to him as as an executive of Joseph Murphy Structural Engineers Ltd (JMSE). "Mr Gogarty told me that JMSE wished to make a political contribution to me and I received from him, in good faith, a sum of £30,000 as a totally unsolicited political contribution. At no time during our meeting were any favours sought or given," the Minister said.
Denying he had ever done any favours or made any requests to anyone on behalf of JMSE, Mr Bailey, Bovale Developments or Mr Gogarty, "either before or since 1989", Mr Burke claimed that Mr Gogarty might be the source of media allegations concerning him.
Mr Burke also said the allegation that he received £40,000 from Mr Bailey or Bovale Developments Ltd on this occasion was "false".
Mr Gogarty made no comment on Mr Burke's statement last night. But Donnelly, Neary, Donnelly solicitors in Newry, Co Down - acting on his behalf - said he had given an undertaking several months ago to the Garda not to make any public statements until Garda investigations into a number of matters were completed.
Mr Bailey is said to be on holiday until September.
Meanwhile, the Labour Party demanded to know why it had taken the Minister so long to "clear up the matter", why he was "not aware of any possible conflict of interest in relation to the business activities of those who gave him such large amounts of money, and why he had not taken any legal action in respect of newspaper stories that had already appeared?
Fine Gael called on the Taoiseach to reveal full details of his own inquiry into contributions to Mr Burke. It also asked if Mr Burke knew why Mr Gogarty decided to come to his house and make an exceptionally substantial political contribution.
A Government spokesman last night said that Mr Burke had not alluded in his statement to giving one-third of the contribution to Fianna Fail because "what is at issue is whether he received £30,000 or £80,000".