SEANAD REPORT:IT WAS possible that the very nature of the Mahon tribunal, "with its lack of due process", contributed to an environment where unfair treatment of the Taoiseach was allowed to happen, Labhrás Ó Murchú (FF) said.
Mr Ó Murchú's statement drew protests from Alex White (Lab) and Maurice Cummins (FG), who both called on him to withdraw it.
Mr Ó Murchú said that for a long period of time he had listened to a debate which conveyed to him that fair play was not being extended to Mr Ahern.
He had always found him to be a very honourable gentleman. Recently, he had noticed that many journalists were saying that there was no longer an appetite among the public for what was happening.
Jim Walsh (FF) said he supported his colleague in what he had said.
What was happening in the tribunals might be fodder for the media, but it now revolved around pantomime and farce. Comments made by various people showed that there was a need for a more effective and fairer system of dealing with important issues in a way that had due process and that would ultimately give the Houses the response they had sought.
Describing Mr Ó Murchú as a very eminent and experienced member of the House, Seanad leader Donie Cassidy said he thought that many other senators would do well to take on board his views in relation to what was happening in tribunals to date.
David Norris (Ind) said he would like to offer his sympathy to the Taoiseach over his present difficulties, "particularly the quality of those who are supporting him".
The Tánaiste had said that the Fine Gael leader, Enda Kenny, was like Napoleon in Elba. "Well, perhaps, but the Duke of Wellington, Bertie aint".
He had heard former senator Martin Mansergh squeaking petulantly on the radio and advising Senator Eugene Regan to respect his betters. This had caused him to recognise the true Cromwellian flavour of certain sections of the Fianna Fáil party.
Deputy Seanad leader Dan Boyle (GP) was accused of changing his views about the possible timing of the Taoiseach's departure from office.
Following Mr Boyle's explanation of what he had said in a radio interview last Monday, Jerry Buttimer (FG) claimed that the Green Party could not make up their minds about the position of Mr Ahern. Their stance was akin to "Lanigan's Ball".
Mr Boyle told the House that he had voiced the opinion that the holder of an office, having expressed the view "that they will not hold that office in the near future", would in the first instance decide for themselves, and secondly decide among their party when such a change of office would occur.
He had gone on to express the opinion that it was no role of his or of his party to decide who the leader of any other party should be. He would be of the opinion that the abilities of leaders of other parties would not fit in with his own template of what a political party should do. But he recognised that having decided who their leader should be, the process was one in which he should not get involved.
Mr Buttimer said that in the radio interview Mr Boyle had asked for a timeline in regard to the Taoiseach's tenure of office.
Alex White (Lab) said he wondered why the Green Party leader had disowned what Mr Boyle had said last Monday. "What was wrong with him raising this issue?"
Not all that long ago, the Green Party leadership had described the Taoiseach as "a dead man walking. That was on the basis of what we knew then. In view of what we know now, how else can we describe him"?
John Hanafin (FF) said that while Mr Ahern was not like Napoleon or the Duke of Wellington, neither of those had achieved the presidency of a united European Council, as Mr Ahern had despite the efforts of the Opposition.