The Taoiseach, Mr Ahern, issued the following statement to RTÉ's Prime Time programme last night:
The Taoiseach confirms that on numerous occasions prior to the Dáil debate on the 28th May 1998 he had publicly acknowledged that he was aware that Mr Burke had been paid a sum of £30,000 by a building firm. He disclosed this matter to the Tánaiste prior to the formation of the Government. The Taoiseach's actual words in the Dail on the 28th of May 1998 were referring to the fact that Mr Joseph Murphy of Joseph Murphy Structural Engineering had denied that he had given any money to Mr Burke. There is no inconsistency between the Taoiseach's often stated public statements and what the Tánaiste said at the Flood Tribunal. The Taoiseach was assured by Mr Burke that it was a political donation and that he had done nothing wrong.
In the light of the Flood Tribunal report, it is now clear that the Taoiseach and the Dáil were deliberately misled by Mr Burke and his conduct deserves all of the public criticism made of him. The Taoiseach repeats his disgust at Mr Burke's betrayal of the public trust and reiterates his condemnation of Mr Burke's conduct.