The Taoiseach has told Sinn Féin leaders that they should stop highlighting alleged corruption in other parties if they want to avoid unwelcome scrutiny of the source of their own funding, writes Denis Staunton in Davos
Speaking in Davos, where he was attending the annual meeting of the World Economic Forum, Mr Ahern dismissed a suggestion by Mr Martin McGuinness that allegations about Sinn Féin funding were jeopardising political talks in the North.
"It was said recently that in one of their offices in Northern Ireland they had over 18 people. That's bigger than any party in the Republic of Ireland. So I think at the same time to lecture the parties generally about corruption is not a luxury I think anyone should get into. And I don't think Martin McGuinness should do it either," he said.
Mr McGuinness said in Davos last week that allegations about Sinn Féin funding were motivated by envy and he pointed out that no Sinn Féin candidate or representative had been before any of the tribunals in the Republic. Mr Ahern said that he had personally avoided making allegations against Sinn Féin in the past but that Mr McGuinness was not well placed to make accusations against other parties.
"What I would say to Martin McGuinness, but on a helpful note, is that while everyone else has been helpful and I'll continue to be helpful, he must understand that, after an election where they went out saying that they were going to end corruption throughout the island, unfortunately his bone fides in doing that aren't very good. So while he's telling other people to stay quiet, I think he should do so himself," he said.
Mr Ahern said that the British and Irish authorities had substantial evidence of "several activities" by the IRA and those related to them. He said that he was committed to bringing an end to such activities, but that it was best to avoid a exchange of allegations.