Bertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)

Deputy Kenny said the money was collected around the table, as if I was sitting there and watching it, but that is not what happened. At the end of the night, Mr. Tim Kilroe, who owned the hotel, gave me the money. It was not collected like that. If I sat there in any capacity and saw that happen, I would not have accepted it, and I think the Deputy knows that. It was not that kind of position and it cannot be put forward as such.

In the circumstances, I have said it was an error; it was a misjudgment. The Deputy has asked what the codes are. The codes are well documented. I had a hand in later codes, but I did not have a hand in the codes then. Having watched what has occurred over the past few weeks and having watched what I have been faced with, I wonder what would happen in the future. Any Member who attends a function and receives a contribution of less than €500, if it is a fundraising issue he or she can put the donation into his or her political donation account and record who gave it. Next January when the Member makes his or her declaration he or she can put down that somebody gave €500. That is all any Member does. The impression that has been given——

See this speech in context