The Taoiseach, Mr Ahern, and the Fianna Fáil party should be embarrassed by Mr Flood's findings, Opposition parties claimed today.
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Fine Gael leader Mr Enda Kenny
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While stressing their comments were based on cursory information, Fine Gael and Labour attacked the Taoiseach for appointing Mr Burke to a ministerial position when he knew a cloud hung over the former north Dublin TD.
Fine Gael leader Mr Enda Kenny said the report was a "searing indictment of the character and behaviour of Ray Burke". He also said it called into question Mr Ahern's judgement when he appointed Mr Burke as minister for Foreign Affairs.
Mr Kenny said: "Fine Gael will be demanding a full Dáil debate on Mr Justice Flood's findings and a full explanation from the Taoiseach as to the reasons why he appointed Mr Burke and defended him on every occasion".
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Labour party leader Mr Ruairí Quinn
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Labour party leader Mr Ruairí Quinn described the interim report as "a damning indictment of Ray Burke, the Taoiseach who appointed him to high office and the Fianna Fáil party.
"It was the Taoiseach who saw it fit to bring Ray Burke back from the political wilderness that Albert Reynolds wisely confined him to. He described attempts by the Opposition to pin Mr Burke down on his behaviour as `the persistent hounding of an honourable man to resign his position on the basis of innuendo and unfounded allegations'".
Mr Quinn said he hoped the Taoiseach now regretted the remarks.
His colleague, Ms Joan Burton, served as a member of Dublin County Council at the time of many of the alleged payments were made and has been a long-standing critic of the activities of the council.
She said today: "The corruption now exposed is not a victim-free crime. The public life of the State has been compromised but, in addition, the daily lives of thousands of families have been blighted by the style of development imposed throughout North and West Dublin by this corrupt legacy".