Taoiseach's house:Taoiseach Bertie Ahern has ruled out making any explanation during the election campaign about the involvement of a Manchester-based businessman in the purchase of his home.
Despite some concern within Fianna Fáil that the issue is dogging the party's campaign, Mr Ahern was clearly riled by the latest round of reporters' questions on the issue.
In the face of one, which probed his relationship with NCB Stockbroking executive Padraic O'Connor, Mr Ahern refused to answer and remained silent for a number of seconds.
When he did reply to other questions on the issue, Mr Ahern simply repeated his view that the appropriate place to deal with the issue was the Mahon tribunal.
"I can tell you that all of these issues are issues that I have already put forward to the Mahon tribunal. That is where I am going to deal with them," he said.
The tribunal is investigating allegations that he received payments from a Cork-based developer, Owen O'Callaghan, in return for helping to block the plans of competing developer Tom Gilmartin.
Mr Ahern said: "Did I receive money from Owen O'Callaghan? I didn't. I unequivocally didn't. I didn't get a penny in old money, or new money. And the second question is did I interfere with the Blanchardstown tax designation? No, I didn't. All of the other issues have nothing to do with me."
The Taoiseach said on Monday that Mr Wall gave his then partner Celia Larkin money in 1994 to deal with "stamp duty issues" and to refurbish the north Dublin house which Mr Ahern subsequently rented from Mr Wall. Mr Ahern bought the house from Mr Wall in 1997, although he has said he had by then also spent £50,000 on refurbishing the property.
Minister for Finance Brian Cowen said that the Taoiseach would deal with all of the matters when they come before the tribunal immediately after the election, or in the autumn.
Labour Party leader Pat Rabbitte said that the public had legitimate concerns about Mr Ahern's handling of his private finances that only he could deal with. "The Taoiseach is the only person who can allay the legitimate unease that is out there among voters by making a clear, definitive and complete statement, but it is entirely a matter for him."
Speaking at Labour's morning press conference, Mr Rabbitte said he believed Fianna Fáil would today launch significant stamp duty changes to try to deflect attention away from the Taoiseach's finances.
"I think they will go the road of announcing tax proposals that are designed to steer attention away from it," he said, "since Fianna Fáil knows that the issue has dogged the early stages of their campaign.
"They know that the new minister for finance should announce that package as quickly as he returns from Áras an Uachtaráin consistent with not breaking the traffic lights. I believe Fianna Fáil will try to steer debate into that area."
Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny said that he would never face the kinds of questions currently before Mr Ahern. "I'm not asking anybody to look at my ethical reputation. I can certainly confirm to you that the kinds of questions that are being asked there [ about Mr Ahern] are, you know, they're irrelevant in my case," he told LMFM local radio in Louth.
Sinn Féin president Gerry Adams adopted a low-key approach when questioned about Mr Ahern's finances, although he believed Mr Ahern should offer a statement of clarification to end the controversy.
