The Taoiseach has said he stands over his criticism of the late Charles J Haughey's finances - but he also stands over his comments at the funeral that he did much for Ireland.
Mr Ahern was making a statement in the Dáil on the report of the Moriarty Tribunal into payments to Mr Haughey, which uncovered payments to the former Taoiseach worth the equivalent of €45m in today's values.
Mr Ahern said the report passed judgement on a politician who had it in him to be great, but who was seduced by a conviction of personal entitlement.
The Taoiseach also accepted the report's finding that his own signing of blank cheques on the party leaders' account was 'undesirable', but noted that he had no reason to believe the account was being operated in an unorthodox fashion.
Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny said Bertie Ahern failed as a politician and as an accountant by signing blank cheques and not asking what the money was used for.
He added that Mr Ahern's refusal to answer questions in the Dáil about the cheques showed that the 'same old attitude' remained within Fianna Fáil.
Labour leader Pat Rabbitte criticised the Progressive Democrats for agreeing with Fianna Fáil in devoting just 90 minutes of Dáil time to discuss the report. He says it showed that now not even the watchdog barks.
