Bertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)

These events took place some years before publication of the McCracken report. However, the procedures I followed, the actions I have now taken and what I have told the tribunal and the public yesterday and today breach neither the ethics code, the tax code, nor legislation. I am sure Deputy Rabbitte, like others, has examined the position very carefully and has not found that to be the case. As I said to Deputy Kenny, I accepted those moneys on the basis that they were loans to be repaid with interest. They would have been repaid before now but I had some difficulty in getting friends to accept that. However, they realise that it has created more difficulty for me now than if they had accepted repayment.

The help I received from personal friends on the basis that loans would be repaid with interest was no more than that. They came to my aid at a certain point in my life. They were friends, and I had known each individual for many years. At no time did I do them any favours; nor was I beholden to them in any fashion. I do not wish to draw distinctions between my actions and those of another Member, but I had no business connections with any of those people. None of my businesses had any association with any of theirs, something fairly evident, since I have never had any businesses. However, the cases are different, since I could not have benefited or gained in any way from any of those individuals. I do not say that to point up others' difficulties. The loans were based on the understanding that I would repay them.

The standards Members are obliged to meet are those in the very tight legislation we drew up over several years. Even today, nothing of what I have put into the public domain or told the tribunals over the years breached any of those guidelines. I ask no one to be purer than legislative guidelines placed before this House. I did not break the rules of the Standards in Public Office Act 2001. I checked the matter with senior counsel and the tax authorities long ago, since I was involved in such issues.

On Deputy Rabbitte's first two points, I do not want to take issue with The Irish Times, which is a newspaper of high standing. I served it well on every publication day from Thursday to Wednesday, being able to fill headlines, as I will probably also do tomorrow. I have no reason to get into a row with it that I would probably lose. I have checked the text and what its eminent journalists said. On the first morning, when I was in Clare, it very precisely stated that four people had given me between IR£50,000 and IR£100,000 in December 1993. Yesterday I proved that the sum was IR£22,500. That is my only point, but its comparison was with that figure. I put all the other issues into the public domain.

I accept Deputy Rabbitte's point about his party having had nothing to do with the leaks and or anything to do with making my personal life more difficult. No one in politics or among the public, other than a few organisations gave me a rough time when my wife and I first separated. I do not suggest that anyone in this House has ever been unfair to me in that regard and I appreciate that.

See this speech in context