MICHEÁL MARTIN has defended his personal role as a minister in a Fianna Fáil-led government which has been accused of attempting to collapse the planning tribunal.
Mr Martin denied being party to any attempt by Fianna Fáil ministers to undermine or collapse the tribunal, as alleged in the inquiry’s report.
He also said he was unaware of any concerted effort by fellow ministers to collapse the inquiry in December 2007, when a succession of senior figures criticised the tribunal’s investigations into Mr Ahern.
The Fianna Fáil leader confirmed his intention to seek the expulsion of former taoiseach Bertie Ahern from the party. A motion to expel former minister Pádraig Flynn and three county councillors will also be considered at the party’s national executive next Friday, in response to the damning tribunal findings.
Mr Martin described as unwise criticisms of the tribunal by then minister for defence Willie O’Dea, who in 2007 claimed the tribunal was acting beyond its remit.
The report accused government ministers of launching unseemly and partisan attacks against the inquiry to undermine its work.
Rejecting the notion that the Fianna Fáil brand was irreparably tarnished, Mr Martin said the party was entitled to represent the 400,000 people who voted for it in the last election.
He denied that he was naive to have believed Mr Ahern’s evidence at the time it was given to the tribunal. “I believed what Bertie Ahern said at that time and I was wrong. I’m disappointed but at the time I felt he was giving an account . . . I hadn’t gone through the entirety of report. You’re saying I should know what it took [the] tribunal 15 years to unravel.
The Fianna Fáil leader also denied that he was motivated by personal political advantage in supporting Mr Ahern when he was taoiseach.
He said he was ashamed of the corruption that had emerged from the tribunal. “It was a bad day for politics and I unreservedly condemn the actions which occurred.”
Asked about his own receipt of a £5,000 donation from fellow Corkman, developer Owen O’Callaghan, whom the report accuses of involvement in corrupt activities, Mr Martin said a distinction had to be drawn between legitimate political contributions and corrupt payments. There was no suggestion of any impropriety on his part in accepting a donation from Mr O’Callaghan.
“Notwithstanding that, the culture was wrong, particularly in relation to the nexus between funding and politics.”
Mr Martin said that although some of those mentioned in the report have since died, he condemned their behaviour. Three former councillors who are still members will be the subject of expulsion motions next week.
As for Mr Flynn, who pocketed a £50,000 cheque from a developer, Mr Martin said there was no circumstance in which this cheque could be justified. “The evidence is clear and a motion to expel him from membership will also be taken up next Friday.”
He said the evidence against Mr Ahern was extremely serious, although the central allegation against him was not sustained.
“No matter how high a member rises within the party and in elected office, they still carry a duty of trust for the members of Fianna Fáil and for the people who elected them,” said Mr Martin. “The motion of expulsion is the only route available to us to assert the fact that he fell short of the standard of personal behaviour which all holders of public office should uphold.”
Mr Martin said the Dublin Central constituency branch would be restructured, with officer functions taken over by the party general secretary. The branch’s assets, including the headquarters at St Luke’s, would be transferred to the general secretary.
Mr Ahern’s brother Noel said he was “pleased the tribunal found that Bertie was in no way guilty of political corruption”.
He was critical of Mr Martin for being in a “mad rush” and using the report to “build his own media image”. Speaking on RTÉ, Noel Ahern said the party should take time to reflect on the findings of the tribunal and “do what is right after that”.
However, colleague and Clare TD Timmy Dooley said Fianna Fáil had no option but to move swiftly following the findings against the former taoiseach. Mr Dooley said there are 50,000 members of the party who are “deeply upset . . . and embarrassed” that the report found part of Mr Ahern’s evidence untruthful. “We have responsibility to our members and it’s for that reason that we moved with purpose,” he said.
