Bertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)

As I said a number of times, these people are friends. If the Deputy wants to categorise people who are friends, that is his entitlement, but it is not an offence to get loans from friends at times. I did that one time in my 55 years on this earth. If in hindsight that was not the wisest thing to do, so be it, but I think there are few of us in this House who have not benefited from friendship at times, particularly in times of difficulty. I have broken no laws and have violated no ethical codes. I have co-operated fully with tribunals that are there to make findings of fact. Other circumstances are used to put out half-truths, exaggerations and claims. I made it very clear what I did and did not do, and I did so many years ago under the confidentiality of tribunals to show that I had nothing to do with any of the issues that I was accused of doing. People are well aware of what has been stated about me over a number of years. I would not wish that people in this House would have to go through the same process I have had to go through in the past eight or nine years to prove that I had no hand, act or part in any of the serious allegations that have been pressed against me, but time will see that right.

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