Reaction: Taoiseach Bertie Ahern said yesterday he was making his legal challenge against the Mahon planning tribunal on a point of principle and not because he had anything to hide or because he wanted to obstruct the inquiry.
Mr Ahern said his court move was taken on legal advice and would not delay his appearance before the tribunal as a witness next week.
Speaking to reporters in Dublin's north inner city yesterday afternoon as the court proceedings opened, he said he was still totally co-operating with the tribunal.
"They are three technical issues. They don't change me appearing at the tribunal or change my ongoing co-operation with the tribunal," he said.
In relation to his stand on his Dáil comments being privileged, Mr Ahern rejected the contention that he had something to hide.
"That's not the case. Anything that I have said, most of the questions that I have been asked are issues that I have said [ to reporters] in doorstep [ interviews] or that I have said in the [ Bryan] Dobson interviews [ on RTÉ in September 2006]. I have said all these things outside so . . . I don't think there's anything I have said in the Dáil that I haven't said outside."
He continued that he had no difficulty with what he said in the Dáil being challenged.
"It's the Dáil privilege issue that you can't be subject to question outside the Dáil. My legal team would want to go far more and have always wanted to go far more, but I have said I was always willing to co-operate."
When it was put to him that he was being obstructive or wanted to restrict the work of the tribunal, he replied: "Well, I can't see how that could be said. All of these issues have been in the public domain so they can ask me about these things.
"As far as the tribunal won't give my legal team something, well, you can work out who's obstructing what."
He repeated that he stood over everything he had said in the Dáil and also confirmed his belief that his own evidence will not be delayed.
Referring to the other matters in contention between himself and the tribunal, Mr Ahern said both himself and the tribunal had financial experts working for them.
"So [ the] tribunal wanted my information and my people wanted their information. So, neither of them would give it," he said.
Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny questioned Mr Ahern's challenge. "What is the Taoiseach hiding? What has he said in the Dáil that he can not now stand over and defend in the Mahon tribunal?" he asked.
He accused Mr Ahern of inconsistency, saying that only 10 days after voting confidence in the tribunal at the end of a Dáil debate, he was now attempting to frustrate its work and cause delay.
Labour leader Éamon Gilmore expressed surprise at the court challenge, claiming it departed from Mr Ahern's repeated insistence that he always co-operated with the tribunal.
"Mr Ahern cannot have it both ways. He cannot tell the Dáil that all of the issues that have arisen surrounding his finances are matters for the tribunal and tell the tribunal at the same time that he is only answerable to the Dáil," he said.
Green Party leader and Minister for the Environment John Gormley was told by Mr Ahern by telephone of the legal challenge in the mid-morning, during a visit to Longford.
Last night, a Green spokesman said the party had "always expressed strong confidence" in all tribunals, and in particular Mahon. "We will continue to do so," he told The Irish Times.
"We note the Taoiseach's decision to challenge in the High Court aspects of the Mahon tribunal's workings. These proceedings are being taken on a personal basis - not on behalf of the Government."