The Minister for Finance, Brian Cowen, has condemned what he calls a deliberate attempt to damage the Taoiseach "through the selective and ongoing leak of information" given to the Mahon Tribunal.
In a statement issued today, Mr Cowen said Mr Ahern believes he should make a complete response concerning his house before the Tribunal resumes its hearings. He said the Taoiseach is to ask his legal advisers to bring together the relevant information.
Mr Cowen said while Mr Ahern accepts that the tribunal has asked parties concerned to keep their statements for their hearings, this delay would only serve to allow the current situation to continue. This, he said, would deny the electorate a debate about the future of their country in the general election campaign.
He accused those involved in leaking tribunal information of trying to raise issues in the most negative way possible. "The selective publication and broadcast of this information is both wrong and at its core denies the people a full and accurate picture", he said.
"There has been ongoing, partial leaking of material which was given in good faith in order to establish the complete untruth of allegations dealing with entirely separate matters".
Mr Cowen said that his party was detemined to keep is focus on the future of the country. "The people deserve an honest debate about the real issues and we are determined to give it to them", he added.