The following statement was issued yesterday by the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr Ray Burke. It has been edited for legal reasons: "During the last two years I have been the target of a vicious campaign of rumour and innuendo. Since my appointment as Minister for Foreign Affairs this campaign has intensified. The stories which have appeared in the media in recent weeks are, as one prominent journalist acknowledged in a letter to me last week, "the culmination of a lengthy series of smears" about me.
"The story still keeps resurfacing in different shapes and forms and the repeated articles and comments of recent weeks have placed an unacceptable burden on my family and myself.
"While I resent having to dignify these allegations by responding to them at all, I believe I must now do so.
"The facts of the matter are that during the 1989 general election campaign I was visited in my home by Mr Michael Bailey of Bovale Developments Ltd and a Mr James Gogarty. Mr Bailey was well known to me, being a resident of North County Dublin and a long time supporter of Fianna Fail. I had not met Mr Gogarty previously but he was introduced by Mr Bailey as an executive of Joseph Murphy Structural Engineers Ltd (JMSE). Mr Gogarty told me that JMSE wished to make a political contribution to me and I received from him, in good faith, a sum of £30,000 as a totally unsolicited political contribution. At no time during our meeting were any favours sought or given.
For the record, I have never done any favours for or made any representations to anyone on be- half of JMSE, Michael Bailey, Bovale Developments Ltd or Mr James Gogarty either before or since 1989. (Mr Burke's emphasis)
"From what I have read and heard, it seems that the source of the allegations that have been appearing in the media may be Mr James Gogarty."
Later in the statement, Mr Burke said: "I have also been the recipient of a number of anonymous threatening letters relating to these allegations. I have turned this correspondence over to the gardai.
"As regards the most recent newspaper reports, I wish to point out:
"1. I received an unsolicited political contribution of £30,000, not £80,000 as reported.
"2. The allegation that I received £40,000 from Mr Bailey or Bovale Developments Ltd on that or any other occasion is false.
"3. There were three persons present when I received the contribution from Mr Gogarty (i.e. Mr Gogarty himself, Mr Bailey and myself) and not five as reported.
"4. There was one JMSE executive present (i.e. Mr Gogarty) and not two or three as variously reported.
"I am taking the opportunity to state unequivocally that I have done nothing illegal, unethical or improper. Indeed, I find myself the victim of a campaign of calumny and abuse.
"It is totally unacceptable to me that this matter should be allowed to continue in order to fulfil an agenda which has nothing to do with election contributions or any other aspect of reasonable or reasoned political debate in Irish public life.
"I wish to make it clear that if any further untruths are published about me, I will take all necessary steps to vindicate my good name and reputation."