When he made the controversial "flawed pedigree" remark about the former taoiseach, Mr Charles Haughey, in 1979, Dr Garret Fitzgerald said yesterday, he was referring to the fact that all previous taoisigh had the full confidence of their party and politicians in general.
Intelligence had come to him, even from within Fianna Fail, that half of Mr Haughey's own party suspected his dealings. "I had a moral certainty but no evidence," he said.
Asked if the circumstances surrounding the controversial clearance of his own bank debts had damaged his political legacy, Dr FitzGerald said he did not believe they had. He had not behaved in a dishonourable way. He said that at the time he was dealing with his bank problems and when, as he subsequently came to understand, the banks were preparing to write off all his debts his son Mark, without his knowledge, had telephoned the banks and suggested they should not be written off in full.
The call had been made because his son had heard rumours that the banks were willing to write off the sum involved, and he had made contact for the sake of his father's reputation and integrity. He had told the banks that it would be preferable if every effort was made by his father to discharge his indebtedness.
Dr FitzGerald said that after the collapse of his shares in GPA he had arranged for the sale of his Dublin home and given "everything I could back to the banks". Other GPA shareholders had to deal with the banks in similar circumstances and, if anything, had received more preferential treatment.
On the latest controversy surrounding the Taoiseach, Mr Ahern, and monies concerning investments for passports, Dr FitzGerald said he believed the system was a vulnerable one. He added: "Any system that allows ministers discretion over large amounts of money is not desirable."
He said short-term damage had been inflicted on the body politic by recent events, but not to have tackled the issues would have led to even greater long-term damage.
"My view is that we will have to go through this extremely unpleasant experience of the tribunals in order to get it right. Then, I hope it will lead to a great improvement in Irish political life."
Mrs Mairin Lynch, wife of the former taoiseach, Mr Jack Lynch, who is ill, has said her husband never had debts written off by any bank.
She said that following a detailed review of her husband's banking activity, she could state categorically on his behalf that "he never sought, nor was given, any favourable treatment in his bank dealings and never had any debts written off by his bank while in politics or at any other time."