The Mahon Tribunal ruled today it would continue its investigation into Taoiseach Bertie Ahern's personal financial affairs.
Chairman Judge Alan Mahon dismissed a submission from the Taoiseach's lawyers claiming it had no jurisdiction to trawl his bank accounts as part of its planning corruption inquiries.
And he insisted Mr Ahern would be called to give evidence next week. The tribunal is investigating an allegation Cork-based property developer Owen O'Callaghan paid Mr Ahern IR£80,000 as he sought to secure re-zoned lands in west Dublin, known as Quarryvale, where the Liffey Valley shopping centre stands.
On the back of that it is probing the source of lodgements to accounts held on the Taoiseach's behalf, including sums of foreign money. Mr Ahern categorically denies the allegation.
Judge Mahon said the investigation into lodgements into Mr Ahern's bank accounts between October 1994 and December 1995 involved substantial and significant sums of money.
Ruling the mammoth financial trawl was not disproportionate, Judge Mahon said it was proper for the tribunal to establish the purpose of these payments. He also refused to postpone dates Mr Ahern is due to give evidence.
Judge Mahon said the Taoiseach had been summonsed to attend public hearings on July 26th and 27th to assist the inquiry as two key witnesses are only obliged to give evidence for half days due to ill-health.
Both Tom Gilmartin, who made the allegation about the IR£80,000 bribe, and former government press secretary Frank Dunlop have been told they should only take the stand for relatively short periods.
But ceding some ground to the Taoiseach's lawyer, Conor Maguire SC, the chairman said Mr Gilmartin's legal team will not be allowed any cross examinations until a later date.
The judge wants Mr Gilmartin cross-examined first. He said it was clear to any observer that the tribunal had an enormous workload, is under pressure and is mandated by the Oireachtas to investigate as efficiently and quickly as possible.
A number of witnesses are now expected to give evidence in the coming days concerning the Taoiseach's accounts, including AIB bank staff, before Mr Ahern takes the stand on Thursday of next week.
The only remaining route for the Taoiseach's lawyers to stop the investigation appears to be a legal challenge asking the High Court to step in and grant a judicial review of the tribunal's jurisdiction.
Mr Maguire QC declined to comment on that option as he left the tribunal. The Taoiseach is due to be questioned on loans and gifts he received while Finance Minister in the early 1990s and an allegation he was given the IR£80,000 as a bribe.
His former partner, Celia Larkin, and businessman Michael Wall are due to give evidence the day before.
Mr Maguire had claimed the tribunal no longer had the jurisdiction to probe the Taoiseach's affairs.
He said key parts of the investigation formed part of the J2 list of the Quarryvale module which the Supreme Court ruled a fortnight ago had been drawn up outside the terms of the inquiry. Judge Mahon said however the issue of Mr Ahern's finances had come into play before the list had been drawn up.