The following are remarks made to reporters by the Taoiseach, Mr Ahern, and broadcast on RTE Radio's News at One yesterday:
Introduction: The Taoiseach was asked if he agreed with the Tanaiste's view that Padraig Flynn's position was now impossible.
Taoiseach:
Well I haven't been talking to the Tanaiste yet today but I will be during the course of the day. I think the Government's view is that, because of all the things that have been said over the last few days and all of the interviews, that seem to run to hours of interviews, that the Commissioner should say something about the matter; that's his prerogative and that's my view on it.
Reporter:
But Taoiseach, Mr Gilmartin has said that last September the Commissioner contacted him, had four telephone conversations with him, while this tribunal was up and running. He has also alleged that the EU Commissioner got £50,000 from him in 1989. Is it not now time that Mr Flynn answered these allegations publicly?
Taoiseach:
Well there are two matters, my view, and it still is my view, that we have a tribunal which I was asked to set up, which I strongly supported, a very powerful tribunal that will in the course of time go through all these matters and I hope that happens, go through it in great detail and I think that will successfully do it. Secondly, and I think it's in the public interest that there has been so much said and so many interviews and so many allegations made over the last few days, that it is our view that it would be helpful if the Commissioner said something, but that is a matter for the Commissioner. The Commissioner is not answerable to me; he is not beholden to me and it's a matter for himself and his own advisers if he does say something.
Reporter:
About your position? About your own position?
Taoiseach:
Well I understand for some months that Mr Gilmartin has been making various statements. Anyone who asked me over the last number of months did I ever meet Mr Gilmartin, I have always said I did, I met him on one occasion. I clearly remember that occasion because he had a development on Bachelor's Walk and he said he was going to spend £500 million on it and that's a lot of money, so I remember that discussion. He met me in Drumcondra. I had another individual with me who I have talked to in the last few days about what was said and not said. He spoke about Bachelor's Walk. He said then that he met me on two occasions. This weekend he said he met me on three occasions; that was on Saturday when the newspapers contacted me. Yesterday he said he met me on four occasions and today he said he met me on five occasions. You know, I have no argument with the man, I met him 10 years ago, I just remember meeting him once. Now it's either that he appeared somewhere, on other occasions, and he made no impact on me whatsoever and I have no recollection of, but I have no recollection of meeting Mr Gilmartin in terms of any one meeting. I have checked this morning with my people in the Department of Finance, with my people in the Department of Labour - the two staff that worked with me in 1987 and 1988 still work with me - and none of us, I am afraid, have any recollection of Mr Gilmartin meeting me. But I have spoken to the now Minister for Labour Affairs who is checking to see if there is any records, but I have no recollection of meeting Mr Gilmartin other than once and I have no recollection whatsoever of having a conversation with him.
Reporter:
You never asked him for money?
Taoiseach:
No question of donations, but he is saying that that was in a telephone call and just to clarify as well, both Mr Bruton and Mr Quinn in the last few days unchallenged have said that I was treasurer of the party in 1987 and 1988. I formally took over as treasurer on January 28th, 1993, I was involved in the run into that for a few months.
Reporter:
Do you feel your name has been blackened over the last couple of days?
Taoiseach:
No, not at all. As you know thankfully in this job I meet hundreds of people every day, I could have well ran into Mr Gilmartin 100 times, I have no recollection of, but a person I would hardly know, I certainly wouldn't ask the person for money and certainly if the person said that they gave a colleague £50,000 I think I would remember it. If they gave a colleague a donation for the party it may not be so, but I have no, no recollection of any discussions with Mr Gilmartin.