The multimillionaire businessman, Mr Dermot Desmond, has hit out at critics of the former taoiseach, Mr Charles J. Haughey, describing the disgraced politician as "a man of vision".
In a rare interview, published in the latest edition of Business & Finance magazine, Mr Desmond said "no other politician in Ireland" would have built the International Financial Services Centre (IFSC) but Mr Haughey.
Speaking of the former taoiseach's tarnished reputation, Mr Desmond said: "I keep asking people, 'What did Charlie Haughey do wrong and how was he corrupt?'
"The whole issue came about when Ben Dunne gave him the money.
"I was approached at the time, because Ben Dunne told me he didn't want Charlie to be embarrassed with the banks. I didn't have the money at the time.
"If you analyse this for a second. Charlie had borrowed money from the banks, so he was hardly robbing the country. His lifestyle was based on borrowings . . .
"Ben decided to wipe Charlie's slate clean, without commitment or favour.
"There was nothing illegal in taking the money, and if he didn't declare tax that was his own business."
Mr Desmond, whose plans to develop the IFSC in 1987 were enthusiastically championed by Mr Haughey, remarked: "He did me the biggest favour: He believed in me."
While the IFSC had developed into a major financial hub, Mr Desmond said, it had been a complete failure as a living area.
The financier, a former chairman of Aer Rianta, also criticised the recent break-up of the airport operator.
"It is the silliest decision ever," he said. "There are too many savings to be made by keeping the three airports together.
"Why replicate or duplicate overheads, including boards and management?
"There has been a tremendous history of working together, so this was purely a political decision.
"Séamus Brennan as minister did an abysmal job, and Noel Hanlon did an even worse job. The result is a break-up of a great company."
He said the former minister for finance, Mr Charlie McCreevy, had done "a magnificent job", and he also declared his support for US President George W. Bush, saying he hoped the Republican would win next month's election "to get himself out of the mess he got himself into".
