The Mahon tribunal's public hearings into the finances of the Taoiseach Bertie Ahern resume tomorrow with the Taoiseach due to give evidence on Thursday and Friday.
The Taoiseach's former landlord, Manchester-based Michael Wall, is scheduled to give evidence tomorrow, as is an AIB foreign exchange expert, Rosemary Murtagh.
In July Ms Murtagh told the tribunal it was "probable" that a deposit made on Mr Ahern's behalf in December 1994 was the result of the exchange of an amount of dollars, rather than an amount of sterling as stated by Mr Ahern.
However, she also agreed with Mr Ahern's counsel that it was possible the money lodged had been sterling. The resumed questioning of Ms Murtagh tomorrow is expected to focus on this issue.
Mr Ahern has told the tribunal in private session that the money lodged was stg£30,000, cash he had been given by his then prospective landlord, Mr Wall. Mr Ahern said he gave this cash to his then partner, Celia Larkin, to lodge for him. Ms Larkin is scheduled to give evidence on Wednesday, before Mr Ahern. He will be asked about four cash lodgments in 1994 and 1995, all of which were preceded by foreign exchange transactions.
The tribunal heard evidence from a number of AIB bank officials in July. Because that evidence took longer than expected, Mr Ahern's appearance was put back until after the summer break.
In early 1995 Mr Wall purchased a house in Dublin which he at first rented, and then sold, to Mr Ahern.
In December 1994 Mr Wall gave a suitcase containing stg£30,000 in cash to Mr Ahern, money which the two men have said was to be used on the renovation of the house Mr Wall was then purchasing.
As well as lodging this money Ms Larkin was also involved in a lodgment in June 1995 which included stg£10,000 cash, and which is also being investigated by the tribunal.
The current sittings are not investigating how Mr Ahern came to purchase his house from Mr Wall, though that issue will be examined at a later date, as is the giving of gifts to Mr Ahern by supporters, and the accumulation of £50,000 in cash by Mr Ahern in the early 1990s.
The tribunal initiated inquiries into Mr Ahern's finances some time ago after allegations from developer Tom Gilmartin. Mr Gilmartin alleged that developer Owen O'Callaghan claimed to have given money to Mr Ahern. Both Mr Ahern and Mr O'Callaghan have said there was no such payment made.
The tribunal's inquiries into Mr Ahern's finances led to it discovering a number of substantial cash payments into Mr Ahern's accounts in 1994 and 1995.
It decided to hold public hearings into these transactions as part of its so-called Quarryvale module.
