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News : Ahern to Address U.S. Congress
Taoiseach (Irish Prime Minister) Bertie Ahern will address a joint session
of U.S. Congress on April 30. “I am deeply honored and delighted
to accept the invitation from Speaker Nancy Pelosi,” Ahern said
in a prepared statement.
“This invitation is a singular honor for Ireland and one of great
historic significance, reflecting the unique friendship between Ireland
and the United States over many centuries and which continues to the present
day.
“I also look forward to meeting with the President, the Speaker,
Chairman Richie Neal and many other friends of Ireland when we gather
to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day in Washington, D.C.”
While the Washington speech will represent a high point for the Taoiseach,
public reaction at home to his performances at the Mahon Tribunal investigating
payments-to-politicians is a lot less flattering. The Fianna Fáil
leader has been unconvincing when asked to explain several payments he
received, describing them variously as loans or gifts, and on one occasion
saying that an anonymous IR£5,000 check he received in 1994 was
a “political donation for personal use.”
There is growing disquiet among Fianna Fáil supporters that continuing
exposure of the Taoiseach’s muddled finances has weakened Ahern’s
reputation and damaged the party’s electoral appeal. Mr. Ahern has
been unable to explain to the tribunal’s satisfaction a stream of
payments received in his name.
In angry exchanges at Dublin Castle, he has been criticized for his level
of cooperation, and in response the Taoiseach mounted a High Court challenge
– to be heard April 1 – on whether the Mahon Tribunal has
exceeded its brief in examining his financial affairs.
One of many transactions that did the Taoiseach no favor was the tribunal’s
discovery of a IR£30,000 loan made to his former girlfriend, Celia
Larkin, in 1993. The money was used to buy her aunt a house. However,
the loan – provided from Fianna Fáil funds in Bertie Ahern’s
Dublin constituency – was only repaid (with interest) several months
ago. Unorthodox financial arrangements surrounding the loan were never
made public prior to the state inquiry in late February. Mr. Ahern told
the tribunal he didn’t know anything about the deal prior to its
approval by trustees of the constituency account.
The Celia Larkin loan – one of many details raised by the Mahon
Tribunal to spark public concern – has embarrassed Ahern’s
cabinet colleagues. When asked about revelations at Dublin Castle, Tánaiste
(Deputy Prime Minister) Brian Cowan, the man endorsed by Ahern as successor,
replied, “I don’t discuss the issue with the Taoiseach. The
Taoiseach is handling that in his own way in compliance with the terms
of reference [of the tribunal].”
Fianna Fáil’s coalition partners, the Green Party, have also
remained silent about the issue. However, party chairman Dan Boyle in
a radio interview said that the Taoiseach’s performance at the tribunal
and the seemingly endless list of unaccounted-for payments were “not
something that is lending towards the proper practice of government.
“He won’t be putting himself forward as Taoiseach at the next
general election,” said Boyle. “We’re now in a period
of time that we have to find out, discover from the Taoiseach himself,
when he feels his time for leaving within this period of government is.
We’re probably coming close to a time when his own party colleagues
will look for finality on that.” |
