The Taoiseach twice yesterday did not address a question as to whether Mr Ray Burke had "some information" which put him in a position to demand a cabinet post in 1997.
As several Fianna Fáil backbenchers yesterday privately expressed concern at what they said was Mr Ahern's lack of directness in dealing with the Flood tribunal fallout, Mr Burke himself said he was "looking forward" to speaking in the future on the matter.
In Galway yesterday, Mr Ahern said he could not apologise for Mr Burke's behaviour, but he added: "We were deeply upset by what Ray Burke was involved in . . . we feel let down and betrayed."
He did not directly answer a question on RTÉ news as to whether he had been "taken in by Mr Burke, or did he have some information that put him in a position to demand a cabinet job?"
He responded first by recalling that nobody in the Dáil had objected when Mr Burke was appointed to cabinet. He said he had chosen him to be Minister for Foreign Affairs because he needed someone to do a "tough and uncompromising job" in relation to the multi-party talks in Northern Ireland.
When the reporter Jim Fahy began to ask the question again, Mr Ahern said: "No Jim, I think I have answered that so we won't go on. I have totally complied with the tribunal, given them all the information and it is there now."
Mr Burke said yesterday on RTÉ that while he had legal advice that he should not comment now, "the opportunity to speak will present itself in the future which I look forward to very much".
The Flood tribunal report published last week found that Mr Burke had received a series of corrupt payments.