The Taoiseach has spoken of his shock at the revelations at the Moriarty Tribunal that the former Taoiseach, Charles Haughey, received payments of £8.5 million from businessmen. Speaking during his visit to Poland, Mr Ahern said that he was determined to vindicate the integrity and good name of Irish public life. He said that, with the help of all necessary safeguards, similar occurrences could be prevented.
The Taoiseach said that he considers Mr Haughey's £8.5 in donations from businessmen to be deeply shocking. He said that it is totally against the ethos of what his party stands for. He said that what has emerged, so far, from the Tribunal represents a deviation from the standards of Fianna Fáil not just during the period of the founders of the party; but at all times in the party's history. More importantly, he said, it offends against the ethos and integrity of what "our" party stands for in relation to the public institutions of "our" state.
He added, "let no one think that the behaviour of a few individuals, in any way, represents what the party stands for or what the state has stood for." He reaffirmed his determination to vindicate the integrity and good name of Irish public life and said that, with the help of all necessary safeguards, similar occurrences can be prevented.
