Tánaiste's reaction:Tánaiste Michael McDowell yesterday described the Taoiseach's weekend statement as an "exercise in honesty and truthfulness" and said that his deposit with the Revenue Commissioners had "no significance whatsoever for the formation of government".
Speaking at the launching of his party's rural policies in Co Laois, Mr McDowell said there were no ethical implications for the Taoiseach and the issue had no significance in relation to public confidence in Mr Ahern.
"We asked for accountability and the Taoiseach gave it in spades. He has put that issue entirely to bed and there is no point in picking over scabs and things like that now," Mr McDowell said.
"The Taoiseach has told me there is a small amount of money which is the subject of a disagreement between his tax advisers and the Revenue Commissioners as to how it should be treated.
"Under the law, he has deposited far more than that amount with the Revenue Commissioners so that whoever is found to be right or wrong in relation to those issues there will be no interest or penalties accruing."
The Tánaiste said he knew about the issue because the Taoiseach had told him about it a number of months ago.
"By the way, I just wanted to compliment the Taoiseach. He was under no pressure to put that into the public domain," he added.
Accompanied by party president Tom Parlon, Mr McDowell launched an attack on the Labour Party and what he described as "a lurch to the left".
He said that Labour and the Greens were attempting to get in under the radar to move the country's economic policies to the left.
He contended that a vote for Olwyn Enright of Fine Gael in Laois would be a vote for Pat Rabbitte, whose slogan was that he wanted to "afflict the comfortable and comfort the afflicted".