The Taoiseach has admitted being at meetings in the past that might "border on the unethical", but he insisted there was nothing unethical about his discussion in September with the president of the Shell Corporation.
Mr Ahern confirmed that the multinational company planned to submit a new planning application by year's end to Mayo County Council for the Corrib Gas field, "subject to the satisfactory completion of ongoing feasibility studies and related public consultation".
Mr Ahern insisted there were "no deals or arrangements" with Shell and he said that "other countries have ways and means of treating large companies, which I do not agree with."
During Question Time yesterday the Taoiseach told the Dáil he found it "extraordinary" that Mr Caoimhghín Ó'Caoláin (SF, Cavan-Monaghan) would think "any of my actions" relating to the meeting with the Shell president were unethical.
"I have had a fair few meetings over the years that might border on the unethical, but I am not guilty of it in this case," Mr Ahern said.
The Green Party leader, Mr Trevor Sargent responded that "it is tempting to ask about the other meetings which the Taoiseach thinks were ethically borderline, but we will leave that for another day".
Mr Ahern told the Dáil that he met Shell's president, Mr Tom Botts and three Shell Ireland colleagues on September 19th. The Ministers for the Environment and Natural Resources also attended as did Department officials. The purpose of the meeting "was to hear the company's concerns about progress on the Corrib gas project".
He added that "I advised them that if they are to proceed, they should submit a new planning application under existing legislation."
An Bord Pleanála had turned down the first application because of the high risk posed by the transfer of some 650,000 cubic metres of peat to adjoining blanket bog.
