Kenny calls on Cowen to force Ahern from office
Minister for Finance Brian Cown should force Bertie Ahern from his job rather than defend the indefensible, Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny said today.
Mr Kenny challenged Brian Cowan to end a circus of “fairytale and fantasy” surrounding the Taoiseach.
He asked how deputy leader Mr Cowen could sit beside a Taoiseach who had allegedly not paid his taxes, who had misled the Dáil about his tax affairs and who had refused to correct the record.
His speech at Castlebar, Mayo, followed the Mahon Tribunal judicial review into planning corruption which focused on Mr Ahern’s controversial finances and unexplained cash lodgements.
“Too often the Taoiseach and this Cabinet are obliged to explain the unexplainable and defend the indefensible,” he said.
“It is clear that the only person in a position to end this sorry saga is the Tánaiste, Brian Cowen.
“The man who declared that he did not need the Greens to keep him honest should now recognise that it is not acceptable to have a Taoiseach who cannot declare compliance with the tax codes, who cannot explain €300,000 worth of lodgements to his accounts and who has clearly misled the public and the Dáil over his inexplicable finances.”
Mahon Tribunal lawyers have focused part of their inquiries on cash lodgements made to Mr Ahern during a 13-month period between 1994 and 1995 while he was Minister for Finance.
Mr Kenny has called for Mr Ahern to go as head of the Government before, claiming he had lost the moral authority to lead.
Today he said: “Unfortunately for the taxpayer struggling to pay a mortgage or a patient trying to access urgent health care, this Taoiseach and his Cabinet are constantly being distracted and diverted from their day jobs by the circus of fantasy and fairytale surrounding the Taoiseach’s financial affairs.”
He accused Mr Ahern of demeaning and increasing cynicism in politics. increasing.
“The longer that Mr Ahern denies the truth to the Irish people the greater the damage will be to his political reputation and legacy when he leaves Office as he proposes to do in the time ahead,” he added.
“I make this appeal to the Taoiseach because I believe that the Irish people want an explanation from him which they can believe.
“The Irish people want an end to this charade and they want the Government and the D áil to focus on the many challenges facing the country as the economy tightens, many public services continue under performing and crime remains ever present on our streets.”
