Manchester links: Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny said that if he had done what the Taoiseach had done, he would be forced to resign by his party.
At the National Ploughing Championships in Carlow, Mr Kenny said he was not satisfied with the information given so far by Bertie Ahern and he would be seeking more answers to unanswered questions, particularly concerning the "Manchester monies".
"I tell you one thing, my standard would be very different. Were I in receipt of that payment for a speaking engagement I would be gone by now because the Fine Gael party would not stand for it. In my 30 years in the Dáil I have never heard of any Minister of any government receiving money for a speaking engagement, either private or public. It is impossible to divorce oneself from being a private person from one's political personality in that case as a minister for finance."
Mr Kenny, who was joined by Labour leader Pat Rabbitte, said the office of Taoiseach must be above reproach and have the respect of the people.
Mr Rabbitte said the Dáil should be allowed do its business and yesterday morning a debate had been conceded by the Tánaiste but by lunchtime he had effectively withdrawn it. "They made us an offer which does not equate with parliamentary accountability. What we need to hear is proper ventilation of the issues raised and hear the answers on the floor of the Dáil."
He said there were two issues, the first about the money accepted by the Taoiseach years ago stated to be gifts. If they were, there were tax implications. "We need further clarity on the Manchester monies. It is unprecedented in my experience that any serving office should engage in a private nixer for reward," said Mr Rabbitte.
He said the only reason Manchester businessmen would want to hear someone talking about the fiscal system was if he was in a position to say something valuable.
"No one is in a position to say something more valuable than a minister for finance. As a serving minister you cannot pretend that meetings like that are in a private capacity. It is a breach of the Ministerial Code of Conduct and we need an opportunity in Dáil Éireann to ventilate the issues involved."
He said he had not had an opportunity to hear Mr Ahern give adequate answers to the questions and he did not want to be rushed into making a judgment until he heard exactly what Mr Ahern had to say.
"I don't like what I have heard so far. I don't like him saying he thinks what happened in Manchester was not taxable because he was there in a private capacity, and the loans he did not repay after all the years.
"Given a proper opportunity in Dáil Éireann he can explain all this but I am very disappointed that the PDs colluded with Fianna Fáil in shutting down the opportunity for proper accountability in a question and answer session."