Revenue decision 'not tied to Mahon'

Taoiseach Bertie Ahern told the Dáil today it was "not correct" to say that a decision by the Revenue Commissioners on his tax…

Taoiseach Bertie Ahern told the Dáil today it was "not correct" to say that a decision by the Revenue Commissioners on his tax affairs is directly linked to the completion of the work of the Mahon tribunal.

Speaking in the Dáil, Mr Ahern apparently contradicted comments he made on the matter last week.

Last week he said the Revenue had indicated that a decision could not be made on his tax affairs until after the Mahon tribunal had concluded its inquiries.

He told the Dáil during Leaders' Questions today: "It is not correct if I said so. I wasn't correct. I can't recall if I did say it. But I didn't mean to say it - that these issues could not be dealt with until the end of the Mahon tribunal.

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"That is not what Revenue said. Revenue said that they were in part of the normal process dealing with these issues."

Mr Ahern, who is due before the Mahon tribunal again on February 21st and 22nd, reiterated that he and his advisors believed he was fully tax compliant.

He today reiterated that he and his tax advisors had comprehensively co-operated with Revenue's investigations into his tax affairs.

"We have answered every single issue that they asked," he said.

He said that neither he nor his tax or legal advisors had been in a position to respond to ongoing inaccurate media leaks of his tax affairs.

Mr Ahern has until February 24th to lodge a tax clearance certificate with the Standards in Public Office Commission (Sipo) as it is within nine months of the general election.

If Mr Ahern cannot produce the certificate, he must submit a statement of application acknowledging outstanding tax issues.

Additional reporting: PA