The Taoiseach must have wished someone would beam him up from the stage of the Mansion house today after he came under ferocious pressure to make a statement about his finances.
The Taoiseach is questioned by Vincent Browne at the Mansion House. Image: PA.
Under the spotlit ceiling of an event that seemed more Star Trek convention than party political campaign, the leader of "Bertie's team" was brought back down to earth with a thud when he was engaged by journalist Vincent Browne over the recent disclosure that his former partner Celia Larkin received monies in the early nineties from a Manchester-based businessman.
A lengthy encounter, tantamount to an inquisition, ensued as Mr Ahern was repeatedly questioned on the receipt of £30,000stg by Ms Larkin for the refurbishment and stamp duty costs of the Taoiseach's then-rented home and about the £50,000 Mr Ahern admitted he spent on doing up the property.
Mr Browne told the Taoiseach it was "not credible" that he would have spent £50,000 doing up a house then worth only £150,000 and which had been built just a few years previously.
"You are claiming that that the 30,000 was for the renovation of a house in which you were putting 50,000 towards that, a total of 80,000 for the renovation of a house that was worth no more than 140,000 or 150,000 at the time when the house was only three or four years-old at the time," Mr Browne said.
"Your credibility comes into question in that regard.what were you doing committing to put 50,000 into the renovation of a house you were purporting merely to rent albeit with a purchase option. A lot of people don't find it credible that that money was for the purpose".
Mr Ahern attempted to disengage Mr Browne, suggesting the launch of the Fianna Fáil election manifesto was not the appropriate place to discuss the matter and said he would answer whatever questions remained at the Mahon tribunal.
"The right place for these issues to be discussed is at the tribunal. That's why they were set up," he said.
He added: "Vincent I have given all of the detail to the tribunal and I have explained that. That was not my money. It was Mr Wall's money administered by Celia Larkin and I have given all the details on that.
"The issues that I gave out last year were the issues that were my money and I have given all of those details Vincent and the rest of the questions I will deal with it at the Mahon tribunal."
However, Mr Browne would not be silenced and, amid calls from the party's Director of Elections PJ Mara to sit down, continued his barrage of questions, once again challenging the Taoiseach to explain himself.
Mr Ahern insisted there was no accusation against him at the Mahon tribunal in relation to the monies and said: "I don't think I have anything hanging over my head."
The Mahon tribunal is investigating allegations of planning corruption in relation to the Quarreyvale site.
The Taoiseach claimed the money given by Mr Wall to Ms Larkin in 1994 "was not money for me" but an arrangement between the two for Ms Larkin to administer the refurbishment on behalf of Mr Wall. "There is nothing in the politics of this that I am guilty of," he insisted.
In relation to the £50,000 the Taoiseach said: "I earned that money, and I was given some by friends - it was my money."
Turning on Mr Browne the Taoiseach asked: "Is it illegal for me to allocate within my own income?," adding: "I was deceiving nobody."