Irish prime minister Bertie Ahern is facing a split with his coalition partners after the Progressive Democrat leader Mary Harney urged him to end ‘considerable public disquiet’ over how mysterious funds appeared in his bank accounts and the Greens insisted ‘contradictory’ evidence given to the Mahon corruption probe was overshadowing government policies.
But the prime minister’s spokesperson made it clear Ahern would not make a statement ahead of his next Mahon appearance in May, the Irish Examiner reports.
The change in attitude of both junior government parties came after Gráinne Carruth, Ahern's former secretary, gave evidence, revealing she lodged sterling into an account, which he testified under oath had only received his wage cheques while finance minister.
Eamon Gilmore, Labour, noted the PD/Green move exposed a deepening rift in the Government, while Foreign Minister Dermot Ahern regarded the matter as an internal Fianna Fáil issue.
Further reading:
Call to stop Ahern appointing Irish tax chief
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