Taoiseach Bertie Ahern told Irish media in Paris yesterday that he was not aware of fresh allegations made by developer Tom Gilmartin against him.
"No, I'm not," Mr Ahern said. "But nothing would surprise me. I think on the last count he's made 19 allegations against me. But whatever about the ongoing debate, which I can't comment about, but the one thing I can say that I don't believe Owen O'Callaghan ever gave me a glass of water in my life, not to mind any money. So whatever else I have to answer, I will be found totally innocent on that, because I never got anything from Owen O'Callaghan."
Asked whether he felt the Mahon tribunal was "out to get ", the Taoiseach said he was not allowed to comment. "But I suppose to say I was told in July that they needed me in for two half days which was approximately I was told about 3½ hours. And it'd be wrapped up before the summer. But I'm the other side of 15 hours now. But I understand the process. Like everybody else, I do what I'm told."
The Taoiseach is scheduled to resume giving evidence to the tribunal on Monday, for a half day, beginning at 2 pm, according to the tribunal website. It will be his fourth day at the tribunal and may not see him complete his evidence. It was initially estimated that his evidence would take one, or possibly two afternoons.