Fianna Fáil is set to resist Opposition demands that it take immediate action against Mayo deputy Ms Beverley Cooper Flynn after reports that she helped her father, the former minister Mr Pádraig Flynn, to invest money offshore and evade tax, writes Mark Brennock, Chief Political Correspondent
The party's ethics committee is likely to consider the matter this week, but party sources said yesterday they may decide against taking early action on the basis that the Mahon tribunal will hear evidence on the matter shortly.
In the Dáil tomorrow, Opposition leaders will demand a statement from the Taoiseach and Ms Cooper Flynn following the emergence of more details of sensational allegations of political corruption from property developer Mr Tom Gilmartin.
The planning tribunal is expected to begin hearing evidence within a month on Mr Gilmartin's failed attempt to build a massive retail development at Quarryvale, west Dublin, in the late 1980s, and what he says were demands for massive bribes from politicians and others. Mr Gilmartin is expected to say he met the Taoiseach on a number of occasions concerning his plans, but he has made no specific allegation of wrongdoing against Mr Ahern.
The Taoiseach will also face questions tomorrow from the main party leaders in the Dáil concerning a report that he has not provided to the planning tribunal documents which he said five years ago he would hand over.
A spokeswoman for the Taoiseach said last night that she would not discuss details of his correspondence with the tribunal, as it was supposed to be confidential at the insistence of the tribunal.
She said: "The Taoiseach has fully co-operated with the tribunal and will continue to do so."
Yesterday the main Opposition parties demanded the suspension of tomorrow's normal Dáil business to allow the Taoiseach and Ms Cooper Flynn make statements concerning these latest allegations.
According to Mr Gilmartin, he was thwarted at every turn by politicians and others seeking money; he gave £50,000 (€63,487) to Mr Flynn intended for Fianna Fáil but this was kept by Mr Flynn; he faced a demand for £5 million (€6.35 million) outside a meeting he had with the then Taoiseach, Mr Charles Haughey, and other ministers, including the current Taoiseach, Mr Ahern; and he faced another demand for £100,000 (€127,000) from former deputy Mr Liam Lawlor.
The outline of these claims has been in the public domain for nearly four years. However, after the recent circulation of witnesses' statements to up to 40 legal teams concerned with this phase of the tribunal, details of the statements were reported on TV3 on Friday and in yesterday's Sunday Business Post.
Fine Gael, Labour and the Green Party yesterday called for the suspension of next week's Dáil business. Fine Gael leader Mr Enda Kenny said this was "to allow time for the Taoiseach and Deputy Cooper Flynn to make statements regarding the extremely grave allegations made against them in the media this weekend".
Labour Party leader Mr Pat Rabbitte said in now appeared that the 1987/89 Fianna Fáil government "was riddled with corruption and dishonesty".
Green Party leader, Mr Trevor Sargent, said Mr Ahern must be prepared to resign as Taoiseach if allegations that he obstructed the planning tribunal are verified.