Three former Taoisigh - Mr Liam Cosgrave, Mr Albert Reynolds and Mr John Bruton - have said they never had any bank debts written off.
They made their comments yesterday in the wake of confirmation by Dr Garret FitzGerald that in 1993 two banks - AIB and Ansbacher - cancelled debts of almost £200,000 owed by him.
Denying there were any political implications in the banks' decisions, Dr FitzGerald said he was out of public life at the time. Dr FitzGerald's financial problems arose from borrowings he had taken out to buy shares in Guinness Peat Aviation, where he was a non-executive director. The failure to float the ill-fated aircraft leasing firm led to a collapse in the value of the shares, leaving him heavily in debt.
He sold his house to his son, Mark, and used the money to clear his mortgage and meet some of his debts to the banks. The remainder of the debts was written off by the banks. He had paid what he could.
Dr FitzGerald said all his contacts were with senior executives in AIB and he did not deal directly at the time with Mr Peter Sutherland, the chairman of the bank, who had been appointed Attorney General and, subsequently, European Commissioner when Dr FitzGerald was Taoiseach.
In a statement issued through his solicitors, Mr Cosgrave said he wished it to be publicly known that he had never operated or held any bank accounts with AIB.
"Mr Cosgrave further wishes it to be known that he has never had any indebtedness to any bank, either before, during or since his involvement in public life", the statement added.
Mr Reynolds said he was a customer with AIB. "But I have never enjoyed write-offs of any size, shape or form during my life from AIB, or any other bank," he said.
Mr Bruton said he did not bank with AIB. "I have not had debts written off by them or anyone else", he said. A fourth former Taoiseach, Mr Jack Lynch, was unable to make a statement because of illness.