Minister for Education and Science Mary Hanafin has come out in support of the Taoiseach's right to privacy in the fresh controversy over his finances.
On RTÉ news last night, she said: "A person's tax affairs are obviously between that person and the Revenue Commissioners."
However, Senator Eugene Regan, Fine Gael's justice spokesman in the Seanad and one of the Taoiseach's most consistent critics, said: "There are serious political implications here and there is an issue on top of everything else which has gone before.
"There is an issue of his credibility and there is an issue of fitness for office."
The latest controversy has arisen following publication of a report in the Irish Mail on Sunday on the Taoiseach's dealings with the Revenue Commissioners.
Questions have also been raised as to whether the Taoiseach has as yet fulfilled the requirement on all TDs and senators to supply a certificate of tax compliance to the Standards in Public Office Commission.
A Government spokesman said earlier this week that dealings between an individual and the commission "are of a confidential nature".
Fine Gael and Labour have been pressing Mr Ahern to make a full statement on his tax affairs. Mr Ahern will lead a Government delegation to South Africa and Tanzania from January 14th to 19th. The Dáil resumes on January 30th.
