Labour claims Ahern's judgment is in question

Opposition reaction: Labour has claimed the jailing of Burke raises very serious questions about the political judgment of the Taoiseach, Mr Ahern, in his appointment of Burke as minister for foreign affairs in 1997.

Fine Gael criticised Mr Ahern's "mistaken defence" of Burke, and the Greens said the judgment was a significant step forward for the tribunals.

Labour's finance spokeswoman, Ms Joan Burton, said the Dáil was entitled to an apology from Mr Ahern over his attack on those who raised "entirely legitimate" questions about Burke's activities.

She pointed out that Burke was the second member of Mr Ahern's first front bench to serve time in prison in connection with the planning tribunal.

Mr Liam Lawlor, whom Mr Ahern appointed as Fianna Fáil spokesman for arts and culture in 1994, was sent to prison three times over his dealings with the tribunal.

Ms Burton said she hoped the conviction would mark a watershed in the battle against tax evasion and against illegality by those who hold public office.

"A custodial sentence was entirely appropriate in this case given the gravity of the offences and the positions of trust held by Mr Burke."

Ms Burton said the current unacceptable level of tax evasion would continue if Revenue did not show it was prepared to use the powers available to it to initiate prosecutions for serious tax offences.

Fine Gael's environment spokesman, Mr Fergus O'Dowd, said the conviction confirmed the fact that no one should consider themselves to be above the law.

"Ray Burke was a powerful member of a government that introduced a tax amnesty, and must have been aware that he was breaking the law when he submitted false tax declarations to the Revenue Commissioners under this same amnesty,

"This conviction lays bare the Taoiseach's spirited and mistaken defence of a man that he appointed to one of the most senior cabinet positions despite the repeated urgings of caution by those within and without his party."

The Green party justice spokesman, Mr Ciaran Cuffe, said he hoped the decision would give some clout to the tribunals.

"No politician should be seen to be above the law, and today's judgment is a significant step forward. This is the tip of the iceberg, and we hope that the ongoing work of the tribunals will shed more light on the murky world of Irish politics over the last 30 years."