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BERTIE AHERN CUT short a German TV interview after being asked about the Mahon Tribunal.
In an interview with Deutsche Welle, the former Taoiseach became uncomfortable when presenter Tim Sebastian asked him about the tribunal.
The interview, on the Conflict Zone programme, first discussed the 20th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement and Ahern’s role in negotiations, before it turned to questions about the tribunal.
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Ahern resigned from Fianna Fáil in March 2012 following the publication of the Mahon Tribunal report. He stepped down as Taoiseach in 2008 and as a TD in 2011.
The tribunal found that he did not truthfully account for payments of IR£165,000 made to accounts connected to him. The report did not make findings of corruption against Ahern, but proved hugely damaging to his reputation. He has rejected its findings.
In the interview, Sebastian asked him: “Did you clear your name?” To which Ahern replied: “Yes, I did. I’m quite happy I cleared my name.”
When Sebastian noted that the tribunal “never reversed its decision” and said Ahern “wasn’t truthful”, the former Taoiseach said: “The tribunal gave its views … and I gave my evidence. I was very happy with my evidence.”
As Sebastian pressed him, Ahern said: “I’ve dealt with that issue and I am not saying any more about that issue.”
‘A finance minister without a bank account’
Sebastian referred to Ahern as “a finance minister without a bank account”, to which Ahern said: “I have dealt with all those issues comprehensively, I’m not dealing with them again.”
“You’re somebody who wants to come back, maybe as president. These are issues in the public domain,” Sebastian noted.
Ahern smiled and replied: “That’ll be for another day.”
He then said: “I agreed to meet you on the Good Friday Agreement, we’ve done that so we’re finished. Thank you very much.”
After the interview, Sebastian said the programme had sent a list of topics it wished to discuss during the interview to Ahern’s offices but “they didn’t come back to us”.
“We hope Mr Ahern will come back to us someday and finish the interview, and we wish him well for the future,” he added.
You can watch the full interview below:
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So disappointed with Phil. All talk etc. No pay parity. No parity on working hours. I’m hoping she’ll be very disappointed with the voting.
@Catherine Gaffney: 55cc’s of brown envelope’s stat
Nothing we marched or went on strike for, is being addressed or rectified. An entire profession being sold out. Mighty nurses indeed.
From what I hear from the nurses I know they are far from impressed with the deal.
@James O’Donovan: I know that student nurses weren’t even asked their opinion, while the Inmo seem to be on a solo run completely at odds with actual nurses demands over conditions.
They might get a suprise from their members .its a bad deal.I think phil is liam Doran in suprise.all her talk @ the start was just a load of waffle
@matthew o reilly: maybe nurses should start another union? Nurses I know want more staff on the wards more than an extra fiver.
What about the facts that they are more and more self serving and patients are getting less and less care while they are getting more money?
@Viola Bingham: what” facts” would they be Viola?
It’s a case of one step forward and two steps backwards for nurses, a poor deal full of conditions, many unacceptable.
The nurses will decide, not phil nor the labour courts nor the politicians. And strike again if ye have to. This gov is a disgrace anyway.
What deal did the Nurses get for the people who have to use their departments? I heard a lot about concern for patients during the strike but I see none of it in this deal.
Another sellout by INMO executive.
Nothing has changed. Doran used to waffle for weeks about conditions, the real problem, and threaten strike action,the govt then throw a few bob their way and suddenly a deal is struck. Highest waiting lists ever in Limerick at present and was in A&E in a Dublin hospital this week and it was like a scene from MASH. Phil and Co should step down. I know it’s in their interest to continue to let patients suffer in these conditions as it justifies their existence, IR turbulence, but the nurses should rebel against this shower for selling them out again. Conditions will never improve with this crowd supposedly leading the drive for change.
Now now everyone calm down…
have your say