The Taoiseach has robustly defended his appointment of Mr Ray Burke to the Cabinet in 1997, saying the only evidence of wrongdoing against him at the time was "unsubstantiated rumour".
In a scripted contribution to the Dáil debate on the Flood tribunal report yesterday, Mr Ahern said the Garda Commissioner, Mr Pat Byrne, had confirmed before Mr Burke's appointment that rumours of corruption concerning Mr Burke were unsubstantiated. "One's judgment at any given time is formed on the basis of what one believes is true at the time and the evidence then available," he said.
Mr Ahern became angry at one point, accusing Fine Gael of "digging up dirt" when opposition deputies accused him of refusing to answer questions.
However, the Fine Gael leader, Mr Enda Kenny, later accused the Taoiseach of "trying to hide behind the gardaí".
He had a duty "to give high office to those who are beyond reproach" and it was "impossible for the Taoiseach to have believed that Ray Burke was in this category".
The debate concluded yesterday afternoon with the Dáil approving a Government motion noting the Flood tribunal report, condemning the action of those against whom the tribunal had made findings, and restating support for the tribunal.
Several opposition amendments seeking to include stronger condemnations of Mr Burke and demanding investigations into specific decisions made by Mr Burke were defeated.
The Taoiseach said the Garda Commissioner's confirmation that the rumours about Mr Burke were unsubstantiated had satisfied the Taoiseach enough for him to appoint Mr Burke as minister for foreign affairs, Mr Ahern said.
He said he had raised the issue of corruption allegations against Mr Burke with the Garda Commissioner during a meeting shortly before he chose his Cabinet.
While the meeting was to discuss other matters, including his own security arrangements as Taoiseach elect, "I took the opportunity to raise with him the allegations of wrongdoing that had been referred to by Donnelly, Neary, Donnelly solicitors, Newry, in respect of the planning process and I asked him if he was aware of the position on any such matters relating to Mr Burke."
He said he had a subsequent phone call from the Commissioner who had looked into the investigations of such allegations.
"In the light of what I was told by him in respect of Ray Burke and planning matters, my assessment was confirmed that the rumours relating to him were unsubstantiated. I was therefore satisfied to proceed with his appointment."
He likened the allegations about Mr Burke to the false allegation against him that he had received £50,000 from Mr Denis O'Brien in the car park of a Dublin hotel.
"If others had formed a judgment about me, based on the rumours disseminated would I have been judged fit to continue in office as Taoiseach?" he asked.
His decision to appoint Mr Burke was "a bona fide one based on Mr Burke's undisputed political abilities, his categorical assurances that he had done nothing wrong, and my own inquiries."
He had no evidence at the time that Mr Burke had engaged in any act of corruption.
He rejected accusations that he had not strongly condemned Mr Burke for his actions. He said he had "repeatedly expressed the sense of betrayal and disgust felt by Fianna Fáil" at the disclosures concerning Mr Burke.
"It is now clear that I was misled, as was this house, by Ray Burke." He had condemned his corrupt activities and had agreed that the report was "a damning indictment of Ray Burke".
He restated his commitment to the rapid enactment of legislation to set up a Corruption Assets Bureau. The power of this bureau to investigate alleged corruption and recover assets obtained through such activity would apply to corrupt acts that took place both before and after the law was introduced.