Fianna Fáil Mayo TD Ms Beverley Cooper Flynn will today make a personal statement to the Dáil to explain her role in handling investments for her father, former EU commissioner Mr Padraig Flynn, writes Mark Hennessy, Political Correspondent
Last night, the deputy, who offered investment advice during a career with National Irish Bank, insisted that her statement, expected this afternoon, would "leave no question or allegation unanswered".
However, Ms Cooper Flynn must be able to refute allegations that she was involved in the creation of bogus non-resident accounts, and, even more importantly, that she set up offshore investments designed to evade Irish tax on her father's behalf.
Meanwhile, the Taoiseach, Mr Ahern, has emphatically denied allegations that he has failed to provide papers to the Mahon tribunal covering developer Mr Tom Gilmartin's thwarted plans to build a shopping centre at Quarryvale.
Breaking from a pre-prepared script yesterday to describe the allegations as "a lie", he said he had supplied all papers on time to the Mahon tribunal.
Specifically asked if he had any current issues with the tribunal, Mr Ahern told The Irish Times: "Not at all. That is why this story is a nonsense."
It is expected the Mahon tribunal, which was formerly named after Mr Justice Flood, will open its public hearings into the Quarryvale allegations early next month.
Ms Cooper Flynn's statement should take place in the Dáil following a row between the Government and the Opposition over the latter's demand for a full statement by the Taoiseach, followed by a debate.
Under the Dáil's Standing Orders, statements from TDs can be allowed by the Ceann Comhairle if they are "personal, non-argumentative and do not lead to further debate", said the Government Chief Whip, Ms Mary Hanafin.
The Minister for Communications, Mr Dermot Ahern, said the Oireachtas had set up the tribunal to investigate planning corruption, and it should be left to do its work.
A Government spokeswoman later said: "Our line on this has been consistent. The proper forum for all of this is the tribunal. I can't see why the Taoiseach should deviate from that now."
However, the leader of the Labour Party, Mr Pat Rabbitte, said the Government had adopted different tactics towards tribunals when it had suited it .
Mr Ahern had answered "a limited number" of Dáil questions in early 1999 when the Gilmartin allegations were first aired even though the planning tribunal had begun its work in 1997.
The leader of Fine Gael, Mr Enda Kenny, said the Minister for Justice, Mr McDowell, faced questions after his claim that he had known for some time that Mr Flynn faced planning allegations. "It is legitimate to ask how he became aware of these allegations."
Fianna Fáil's own ethics committee, headed by the chairman of the FF Parliamentary Party, Mr Seamus Kirk, will discuss the allegations against Ms Cooper Flynn this week.
The meeting could take place as early as tomorrow, though the committee will only agree to collect material for a full hearing later.
"Due process and natural justice must be respected," Mr Kirk told The Irish Times yesterday.
Last Friday, Ms Cooper Flynn said she had never benefited "directly, or indirectly" from any investments made by her father.