Political reaction:Taoiseach Bertie Ahern's credibility suffered such a damaging blow yesterday that he should step down immediately after addressing the United States Congress in April, Labour leader Éamon Gilmore said last night.
Fine Gael and Labour issued hard-hitting statements, homing in on the 1993 transfer of £30,000 to Mr Ahern's then partner, Celia Larkin.
The money, paid in March 1993, came from the "building trust" account for St Luke's, the Fianna Fáil Dublin Central headquarters in Drumcondra.
The money, used to purchase a house occupied by elderly relatives of Ms Larkin, has been repaid only in recent weeks.
Mr Gilmore said Tánaiste Brian Cowen and other Fianna Fáil Ministers ought to tell Mr Ahern to "call it a day" as soon as he has addressed Congress on April 30th.
In equally robust language, Fine Gael Senator Eugene Regan said that a "new dam had burst around Mr Ahern" and that the Taoiseach's version of events was now bereft of credibility.
Political pressure on Mr Ahern is expected to escalate further over the weekend, with further reaction to his two days in the witness box.
A detailed response is expected from Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny and this issue will dominate next week's proceeding in the Oireachtas.
As he left the tribunal yesterday evening, Mr Ahern insisted that the transfer of £30,000 to Ms Larkin from constituency funds had no ethical implications for himself. "It was a decision for the trust and they were perfectly entitled to do it," he told reporters in Dublin Castle.
No senior Fianna Fáil Minister commented at the conclusion of the Taoiseach's evidence, unlike his last appearance in December.
For his part, Mr Gilmore contended that the Taoiseach's appearances and evidence at the tribunal had become increasingly incredible and embarrassing.
"The Taoiseach's situation is now a national embarrassment . . . his determination to cling to power is doing the country a disservice," said Mr Gilmore.
However, a senior spokesman on behalf of Fianna Fáil last night pointed out that the Dáil had recently passed a motion approving of a process whereby the planning tribunal should be left to complete its work.
"What we have here now is other parties pre-empting its findings and drawing their own premature conclusions," he said.
