Fine Gael is calling on the Taoiseach to conduct furtherinquiries into the source of the payment of the £30,000election contribution to the Minister for Foreign Affairs, MrBurke, during the 1989 general election campaign.
The party's spokesman, Mr Richard Bruton, maintains that"significant new inconsistencies" have come to light over theweekend which place an onus on Mr Bertie Ahern to revealwhat he knows of the matter.
Senior Government sources, meanwhile, believe theTaoiseach may not know the name of the person who gave£30,000 to Mr Burke.
In his investigation, Mr Ahern set out to satisfy himself thatno favours had been sought, or given, in return for thedonation. He sent Mr Dermot Ahern, then chief whip, toLondon to investigate the matter for him before Mr Burke'sappointment to the Cabinet.
The Taoiseach later professed himself satisfied with thecircumstances surrounding the donation by a building firm toMr Burke in 1989.
"I know the circumstances about it and I am quite satisfiedwith the matter," he said. Senior Fianna Fβil sourcesconfirmed that about £10,000 of the £30,000 donation washanded over to the party.
A report in yesterday's Sunday Business Post suggestedthat the person thought to be the original benefactor to MrBurke, Mr Michael Bailey, of Bovale Developments Ltd,was now denying that he had paid the donation.
Mr Bailey could not be contacted by The Irish Timesyesterday.
The recurring stories about Mr Burke are now causingsome concern in Government circles. The Taoiseach hasbeen forced to deal with allegations about Mr Burke onthree separate occasions since the election campaign.
Mr Bruton said last night that he was also questioning thenature of the assurances given by Mr Dermot Ahern to MrAhern following his investigation in London.
